The Role of African Independent Churches in Preventing Child or Early Marriages in Mozambique

The main focus of this paper was to critically analyse the role of African Independent Churches in preventing child marriages in Mozambique. It also examined the prevalence, causes and impacts of child marriage in Mozambique. The authors used the desktop research method, focusing on the analysis of existing literature in the form of books, articles, international and regional instruments on the issue of child marriages in Mozambique. The paper highlights that the main causes of child marriages in Mozambique are poverty, initiation rites, lack of education, payment of lobolo and armed conflicts. It concludes that preventing child marriage requires the use of different methods, such as heightened awareness, law enforcement, and strengthened legal and policy frameworks. To end Child marriages in Mozambique, African independent churches must conduct awareness programs on the causes and detrimental effects of child marriages, promote the use of alternative initiation rites, partner with other organisations and the government in implementing economic empowerment programs, and also conduct counselling services to victims of child marriages. This study plays a significant role in ending child marriages in Mozambique and in Africa at large. It plays an important role in educating young girls about the harmful effects of getting into an early marriage and also provides directions on what can be done by the young girls if they become victims of ‘child marriages’. This paper reaffirms, with reference to international and regional human rights instruments, that the legal age of marriage is eighteen (18) years.