Theresa Kachindamoto is a traditional chief in the Dedza district of Malawi.
Theresa Kachindamoto is the youngest of twelve siblings in a family of traditional leaders in the Dedza District. She has worked as a secretary for 27 years at a college in the Zomba district of southern Malawi. In 2003, she was chosen by the Dedza District Chiefs to become the next Chief Executive of the district, which has a population of over 900,000.
She is known for her activism for the education of girls and boys and for her fight against early marriage.
Since becoming head of her district, Kachindamoto has already annulled more than 3,000 marriages, gaining international recognition. “I promised myself that there would be no more forced child marriages in my district,” said Kachindamoto.
Credit: Bénédicte Diumula (Afro Wisdom)