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 In rural areas of Zambia, "lobola", or the payment of a “bride price” is still practiced. Traditionally, the prospective husband is required to give a certain amount of money and goods, including cattle or blankets before a marriage is agreed. It is supposed to be a symbol of sincerity and good faith, but too often families “sell” daughters for food to ward off starvation or for seed or fertilizer to plant their fields. It is not unusual for the prospective bride to be as young as 12 – or even 10 years old.
Thirteen year old Angela was very near to becoming such a child bride. When both her mother and father died, her uncle began looking for a man to marry her. Since Angela is an especially lovely young lady, her beauty would bring a high price. The prospective husband must have the means to pay and so would likely be an older man whose wife had died, or a man with an established family who was looking for a second or third wife (polygamy is illegal in Zambia, but still practiced in rural areas.) This prospect is especially horrifying because the chances are high that her new husband would infect her with AIDS.
When family members heard of the uncle’s plan they tried unsuccessfully to convince him to abandon the marriage plot and let them raise Angela and send her to school. When he refused, the desperate family called in the police for help. Until the case could be heard in court, Angela was safely hidden at House of Martha. When her safety was assured, Angela was reunited with her extended family.
For other girls like Angela, the existence of House of Martha, a safe house during crisis, means the difference between a life of misery or one of fulfillment.
We invite you to provide a safety net of prayer and provision for these street children.
Other House of Martha stories: Street Children Home Was the Police Station Three Sisters
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