Early marriages threaten lives of girls

-




By Rutendo Mambume

Early marriages are robbing girls of their childhood experience and threatening their health.

The Provincial Marketing and Communication Officer of Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), Herbert Chikosi said that cultural and religious beliefs were the main drivers of early marriages which affected girl children. 

He noted that some apostolic sects like Johanne Marange supported the marriage of young girls soon after the initiation ceremony, much to the detriment of the girl child.

“In some communities we are also seeing some forced marriages of young people due to poverty, hence limiting the potential of girl child in education.

“As an organization, we highlight dangers associated with early marriages and provide life skills. We have collaborated with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary schools to make sure that young girls receive equal education with the boys so as to avoid early child marriages,” he said.

Masvingo has a high prevalence rate of early child marriages, Chikosi said, adding that child marriages must be prevented because they risked the lives of both the girl child and the baby.

A COVID-19 pandemic that broke out from 2020 to 2021, resulted in a sharp increase in child marriages due to school closures. Young girls were negatively affected and some of them were forced into marriages.

In May 2022, the President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa signed into the law The Marriage Act that prohibits the marriage of minors under the age of 18.

Under Zimbabwe’s constitution, girls have the same rights with boys. They have a right to education, right to work and right to be protected from violence but these rights are still violated in some marginalized areas due to some cultural and religious beliefs.

Tawanda Chitsiku, the director of Girls are Important Network Trust (GAIN TRUST) that champions the rights of adolescent girls and young women, said that church leaders, chief leaders and some old women must be engaged in order to stop early marriages.

These should provide counselling to the girls in communities.

In 2016, the United Nations sustainable Development Goals in partnership with UNICEF called for global action to end this human right violation by 2030. Empowering younger girls at the risk of marriage or in marriage program has reached most of the people including the influencers.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ngomahuru Patients Receive Christmas Cheer Amidst Dire Conditions

-
Image
By Kumbirayi Maguta *Masvingo, Zimbabwe*  - In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Helping Hand and the Sibongile Manungo Foundation brought festive cheer to Ngomahuru Hospital patients in Masvingo District this week. However, the visit also shed light on the hospital's critical challenges, including drug abuse prevalence and resource shortages. The organizations hosted a heartfelt Christmas party, providing food and entertainment to patients and staff. The event offered a much-needed respite, but it couldn't mask the underlying issues plaguing the facility. A staggering 80% of Ngomahuru's 121 patients are reportedly struggling with drug addiction, with men forming the majority. The hospital faces critical shortages of medication and qualified healthcare workers, further compounding the challenges. Limited accommodation forces the hospital to discharge patients prematurely, jeopardizing their recovery. Despite accepting all ages free of charge, Ngomahuru relies sole
Read more

Dont discuss your business plans in public- Strive Masiyiwa

-
Image
Strive Masiyiwa, the Executive Chairman & Founder of the Econet Group, has advised entrepreneurs to desist from discussing their business plans or pre-empting their strategies in public. Writing on his Face book Page which gives business tips to entrepreneurs, Masiyiwa said never ever open your mouth about what you are doing in public because you risk giving your competitors an aided advantage . “Many years ago I was on a flight, and sitting there I listened to two guys in front of me speaking in hushed tones. As I listened carefully, I realized they were from a competitor company discussing a very interesting opportunity that I had not heard about! Wow! “As soon as I got off the plane I did two things: First of all, I moved in quickly and took over that deal from right under their nose. To this day, they don't know what happened! No regrets on my part, those were fools, wrote Masiyiwa. The businessman said he always advise his people to never, ever, open their mouth about what
Read more

Hatfield Elite Academy Holds Patron and Parents Day

-
Image
Like every human organ, Hatfield Elite Academy went through growing pains. After three years of steady growing pains, the school held its first Patron and Parents’ Speech and Prize Giving Day. Patron and Parents Day brings together parents, students, and staff to celebrate the achievements of the year and honor students and staff who have distinguished themselves. This year was special because it was the first time all interested parties had been able to come together. Founded by ambitious school teachers, Blessing and his wife, Dr. Gallie Kawanzaruwa, and chaired by a young and ambitious 42-year-old dreamer, Mr. Thomas Chidavaenzi with experience in financial management, the school immediately suffered from the onslaught of Corona-19 virus. Only 15 students had registered when the authorities ordered the suspension of in-class activities. There were eleven teachers to be paid. Two years later, the school brought in the renowned educator and publicist, Professor Kenneth Mufuka from the
Read more