Tanzania Set To Begin Arrest of Pregnant Teenagers

Tanzania is set to begin the arrest of pregnant teenagers in the country and charge them to court in a move to prevent school girls from involving themselves in premarital affairs. 

The regional commissioner of Mwanza, Mr John Mongella, on Monday directed all directors and district commissioners to ensure all schoolgirls found pregnant are taken to court.

He noted that the move would prevent schoolgirls from involving themselves in love affairs and also enable them to report to the responsible authorities and testify in court against the culprits.

He said pregnant teenagers have a tendency to not divulge who it was that got them pregnant.

There have been a tendency of pregnant schoolgirls not to mention the name of a person, who impregnated them. This is a challenge, when one is required to testify in court, he said.

The move follows a move in June by Tanzanian President John Magufuli, where he upheld a law that bans girls from returning to school after they have given birth.

Both the upholding of the law and the move by Mongella have been described as an infringement against the human rights of the girls.