Members of parliament from across the political divide in parliament on Tuesday threw behind their differences and unanimously agreed to raise the definition age of a child from 14 to 18.
The first attempt to make the Constitutional amendment failed as there were only 127 legislators, just short of one, out of the 128 back-benchers needed to push for the amendment. However, after several phone calls, some MPs came back where they were and managed to push for the amendment with 133 legislators.
This means a child in Malawi is a person who is under 18.
The members of parliament who spoke from both aisles of the House said this was an important amendment.
Nkhata Bay Central MP Ralph Mhone said this means the age limit for a child in Malawi has now been harmonised.
He said different laws gave different meaning of age limit for a child with some putting at 14, others 16 whilst the voting age was at 18.
Dowa east MP Chimwendo Banda said this means it would be illegal to marry off a girl before she reaches the age of 18.
