Tanzania Adds 30 Yrs Prison Provision To Child Marriage, Teenage Pregnancy

Tanzania has further tightened the law of teenage pregnancy and child marriage. Man involved will now face 30 years of prison.

The parliament has passed the new provisions to safeguard education of young children.

A data reveals Tanzania is one of the top countries in the world to have highest adolescent pregnancy and birth rates. A 2015/16 survey conducted by Tanzania Bureau of Statistics reveals 21 percent of girls between the age group of 15 and 19 have given birth to babies.

A separate data reveals about fifteen million girls across the world are married off as children every year.

Attorney General George Masaju said the new provisions passed by the parliament aims in creating a better environment for schoolgirls to finish studies.

The new provisions state, “any person who impregnates a primary school or a secondary school girl commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term of thirty years.”

Under the new law all the school heads are also required to submit detailed report to Education Ministry about those students who were pregnant or married.

Additionally, those girls who have been kicked out of school for getting pregnant should be allowed to return to schools after giving birth.

Share your own views too abuot how better the new provisions under the existing law could help young girls to complete their education. Use the below given comment box.