Times Of Swaziland: '˜Abducting girls for sex is a crime'

'˜Abducting girls for sex is a crime'
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 MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE  on 18/01/2013 00:00:00


MBABANE – The Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGGA) has said abducting
young girls for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with them is a crime
and cannot be cloaked under the guise of ‘traditional marriage’.
The organisation was reacting to a story that appeared in this publication
yesterday, where a 21- year-old man abducted a 15- year-old girl for the purpose
of traditionally marrying her.
Mfanufikile Dlamini, of Maphalaleni, was arrested and charged for abducting the
girl with intent to have sexual intercourse with her or to marry her.
He, on Wednesday, appeared before Mbabane Magistrate Phathaphatha Mdluli, who
cautioned and discharged him.
Dlamini claimed he was preparing to marry the young girl and had already
introduced her to his parents.
SWAGAA Communications Officer, Maureen Littlejohn, said although traditionalists
such as acting Ludzidzini Governor, Timothy Velabo Mtetwa, have said underage
girls can traditionally marry as long as they and their parents have agreed,
this notion was highly disturbing.
"Swazi law states it is illegal to engage in sexual relationships with girls
under the age of 16 (Girls And Women’s Protection Act of 1920).
"What is most disturbing is the fact that most of these ‘marriages’ are
forced, with the young girls having little or no say in being married to much
older men. "The situation is often forced because either the family wants to
receive payment or, if sexual relations have occurred (usually forced upon the
girl), the family wants to save face."
She said they have read many tragic stories in the newspapers recently involving
these types of marriages; from girls being forced to marry after being raped, to
getting pregnant and dropping out of school as well as attempting suicide.
Littlejohn said what these girls were enduring in the name of ‘traditional
marriage’ was a human rights violation.
She said Swaziland signed the Human Rights Declaration and the Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
"The Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2012 received assent from King
Mswati III to protect the lives and dignity of all children in Swaziland.
"Protecting young Swazi girls from traditional marriages that they don’t want
is a matter of principle. It is not a complicated legal issue, but is simply a
matter of upholding human rights and Swazi law," she said