By Chrissie Teleza
Malawians are mourning the death of a traditional leader who received international recognition for using her role to end hundreds of child marriages and ensure boys and girls returned to school.
Theresa Chidyaonga, who became Chief Kachindamoto in 2003, died while receiving treatment at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in the Malawi Capital, Lilongwe. She was 75.
Kachindamoto won multiple awards both locally and internationally for her strong stance against child marriages.
Globally, Malawi has one of the highest rates of child marriage, with a 2012 UN study estimating that more than 50% of the country’s young women are married before their 18th birthday.
When Kachindamoto became chief, she worked to dissolve a culture consumed by the objectification of women and children and ended more than 1,500 child marriages. She ordered child mothers and fathers from the dissolved marriages to return to school.
In March 2024, Kachindamoto received an honorary doctorate a Belgian Catholic university and the same year in October she got the 2024 African Genius Award from a pan-African think tank, Priority Performance Projects (PPP).
Kachindamoto is also a recipient of the Leadership in Public Life Award from American International, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that works with women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, women’s political participation, and human rights.
Former president Peter Mutharika took to social media to pay his tribute to the late Senior Chief Kachindamoto.
Writing on Facebook, Mutharika said:
It is with great sorrow that I have learnt of the passing of Senior Chief Kachindamoto of Dedza, a woman of gentle kindness; a towering figure in this country’s traditional leadership; and a champion for girls’ rights.
I mostly remember her passion when we worked together to advance the 2015 Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act, which raised the minimum marriage age to 18. Her commitment ensured that this law was not only passed but actively enforced in her area, annulling thousands of child marriages and giving countless girls the opportunity to return to school. She was also a strong partner as a fellow Champion in the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign, demonstrating to the world that Malawi’s traditional leaders can lead the fight for gender equality.
On behalf of the Democratic Progressive Party – DPP, my family, and on my own behalf, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Kachindamoto family, the people of Dedza, and all Malawians. May her legacy continue to inspire our women and girls just as her vision keep inspiring us all to keep fighting for a better Malawi.
