Tanzania plans Marriage Act reforms to end child marriage

Tanzania’s Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, Dr. Juma Zuberi Homera, has announced that the government is in consultations to amend certain sections of the Marriage Act. The primary objective of these reforms is to combat child marriage and ensure that girls can pursue education from primary through secondary school without interruption.

Dr. Homera emphasized that the government is focusing on specific provisions rather than a total overhaul of the law. The amendments aim to protect girls from gender-based violence and provide them with the necessary tools, including education and economic capital, to achieve independence. The Ministry intends to continue collaborating with organizations like Plan International Tanzania to support vulnerable girls.

Jane Sembuche, Director of Plan International Tanzania, noted that statistics show 29.1 percent of women aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18. She urged the government to expedite the legal changes to establish 18 as the minimum marriage age for all, a move seen as vital for achieving the goals of the Tanzania Development Vision 2050.