Seven minors, aged between 11 and 16, were rescued from captivity where they had been victims of sexual exploitation in the district of Angónia in the province of Tete.

The Provincial Director for Gender, Children and Social Action said that the cases had already been reported to the competent authorities, where they are being processed legally.

"Parents and guardians must monitor their children, and society, so that we can fight to put an end to it. Premature unions are a major concern and we must denounce them," said Graziela Portimão, quoted today by Rádio Moçambique.

Similar cases occur throughout most of the province, but go unreported, according to Portimão.