Dar es Salaam. Calls are growing for the government to amend the Marriage Act of 1971 to set 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for girls.
Currently, the law allows boys to marry at 18, while girls can marry at 14 or 15 with parental consent. Stakeholders say this contradicts child protection standards and exposes girls to early marriage.
The Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network (TECMN) said it is engaging the government to push for reforms.
“We are undertaking policy advocacy to ensure the marriage law is amended so that no child is married below the age of 18,” said Ms Irene Ernest of the Children’s Dignity Forum.
She said discussions are ongoing with ministries responsible for legal affairs, community development and education to build consensus.
“Our goal is to ensure that children complete their education without being forced into early marriages,” she said.
Ms Ernest added that the government and stakeholders are working on a framework to collect public views on possible amendments.
Stakeholders say early marriage contributes to school dropouts and limits economic opportunities for girls.
Ms Sophia Nshushi, executive director of Teens Corridor, said poverty is a key driver, with some families marrying off daughters for bride price.
She also cited harmful practices and beliefs that undervalue girls.
“There is a clear contradiction between the Law of Marriage and the Law of the Child, which defines a child as anyone below 18,” she said.
TECMN chairperson Ms Tike Mwambipile said girls who become pregnant before 18 should be treated as victims under the law.
“A girl who becomes pregnant at that age is still a victim,” she said, adding that denying them education worsens the situation.
Stakeholders are also calling for stronger measures to support school re-entry and raise awareness on the risks of child marriage.
