Often, they rush into making lasting decisions about getting married, at young ages, sometimes as teenagers, and many of these marriages end in stressful lives and divorces.
Such decisions often come with problems and usually, ultimately ruin the relationships. Lack of maturity, as studies suggest, is one of the biggest problems for marriages involving young couples. Studies further show that young couples who marry in early teenagehood, are often affected by changing values, belief systems, and behavioural patterns.
Different beliefs across the world, however, such as Islam, permit their followers to marry at young ages and even marry more than one wife as long as the man is capable of providing for the family. In the context of Botswana, though it is not a common occurrence for couples to marry between the ages of 18 and 21 years, there are pockets of incidents where young couples enter their nuptials at those ages, particularly in Christian communities.
One such Christian couple is Maureen Melato aged 19 years from Borotsi in Tswapong and Lesedi Ditsela, a 21-year-old lad from Mokobeng, Tswapong. The couple met at Moeng College in 2021 where they were schooling.
According to Prophet Manaka Mashoma of Prophet Manaka Ministries, God told him that the couple ought to be married. He said following this prophecy, the couple, consulted their respective families and were given the go-ahead with their plans to marry regardless of their tender age.
In sharing their fairy tale, Maureen said her relationship with Lesedi began in May last year.
“Even though we schooled together, the turning point came when we both attended a church service and Prophet Manaka prophesied on us that we were meant to be together,” she said. “This truly showed that our relationship is a God-centred relationship and we got engaged.” Maureen added that their engagement will help them know each other better and work on each other’s weaknesses while raising funds to plan for the wedding. She said they are ready to face any challenges that they may come across in life, leaning on the Christian principles and teachings of their 'spiritual father', Prophet Manaka.
Prophet Manaka, who proudly regards himself as the couple’s 'spiritual father', said the two had already accepted the prophecy that they were meant for each other.
“They have since become engaged and plans are ongoing to wed in March next year. “This is a blessing for the couple because I too got married to my wife Monica Manaka nee Micardesh when I was 21 years and she was 18 years old in 2020,” he said.
The tale of Lesedi and Maureen will hope to echo Biblical stories where many couples married young but had successful marriages.
“It is found in the story of Abraham and Sarah who were relatively young when they married and their marriage was blessed with a child. “Likewise Isaac and Rebekah married when they were teenagers,” said Manaka.
He added that by getting married at a young age, Christians also see marriage as an opportunity to grow in faithfulness and love.
“In short, Christians marry young because they believe that is God’s will for them to do so,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Gaborone West Customary Court President, Arnold Somolokae, says there is nothing wrong with young couples above the age of 18 getting married as the Children's Act clearly states that only those that are below 18 are regarded as children.
Regarding the issue of immaturity and consequences thereof, Kgosi Somolokae said even older couples face similar challenges which Lesedi and Maureen may face in future but, “The earlier they engage each other and wed, the more they will learn the circles of life together and be able to work out the sustainability of their marriage".
