Breaking the Cycle of Early Marriages: UNIMA Inspires Namitembo CDSS Learners

On Saturday, 28th June 2025, the University of Malawi (UNIMA) hosted students from Namitembo Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), a school located in Chingale, Zomba. The group, comprising Form Three and Form Four students, was accompanied by their teachers, Mr. Louden Hussein and Fr. Hermes Malata.

The educational visit, which was initiated by Fr. Malata, not only provided a platform for the students to explore the various academic programmes offered at the university but also aimed to inspire them to pursue tertiary education and refrain from engaging in sexual activities and early marriages, issues that are increasingly common in the communities surrounding the school.

Fr. Malata shared that he organized the visit to motivate the students, especially those in Form Four, who were scheduled to begin their MSCE examinations in two days. He emphasized the importance of exposing learners to university life to inspire them to work harder and strive toward higher education.

“Many students in my community rush into early marriages, which is a serious concern,” said Fr. Malata. “I’m hoping this visit has inspired them. Knowing my students, I believe some will perform better in the upcoming MSCE exams. I’m someone who doesn’t believe in failure, and it is my wish that one day, a student from Namitembo will be able to study at UNIMA as a result of this trip. We will continue organizing such educational visits, and I will also request the university to one day visit Namitembo CDSS, so that even more students can be motivated.”

Ms. Roseby Makawa, a University Warden and lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts, delivered a career talk encouraging the students to pursue higher education and avoid early marriages. She stressed the importance of becoming self-reliant and warned against using marriage as a solution to financial problems, which often results in even greater challenges.

She was joined by Ms. Mercy Mulonda, a final-year Bachelor of Education in Biology student, who shared her personal journey and encouraged the students to remain resilient and not give up when faced with obstacles. The visit concluded with a guided tour of the university campus, during which Ms. Mulonda continued to engage with the students, answering their questions. Many of the students expressed interest in pursuing higher education at UNIMA.