- Mashonaland Central tops child marriage prevalence rate
- Child marriages banned in Zimbabwe
PLAN International Zimbabwe (PIZ) on Wednesday released statistics of child marriage prevalence in Zimbabwe.
The analysis took a province by province perspective.
According to the statistics, Mashonaland Central ranks first on the index, with a prevalence rate of 50 percent.
Second on the index is Mashonaland West on 42 percent.
Masvingo stand on 39 percent child marriage prevalence rate, followed by Mashonaland Central on 36 percent.
The differential child marriage prevalence between the Midlands and Manicaland is a mere 1 percent, with a the former recording 31 percent and Manicaland 30 percent.
Matabeleland North stands at 27 percent while Matabeleland South is on 18 percent.
Harare and Bulawayo are on 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively.
Child marriages are a violation of human rights, with the obvious consequence being that it enforces the gendered notion of poverty and powerlessness.
Experts also say child marriages stultify the physical, mental, intellectual and social development of the girl child, heightening the social isolation of the victim.
Child marriages were declared illegal in Zimbabwe, setting 18 years as the minimum age of marriage.
The landmark ruling to this effect was made after Tendai Biti challenged the Customary Marriages Act, which he claimed allowed girls to be married at an early age.
Biti said ending girl child marriages was a victory against poverty and patriarchy.
“The decision passed by the Constitutional Court in respect of child marriages is small but significantly important against the cobwebs of patriarchy and the exploitation women, the girl child in particular,” Biti said.
According to the constitutional lawyer, child marriages were a tool of oppression, which subordinated not only women but their families as well.
PIZ former director for Zambia, Lennart Reinius applauded the ruling against child marriages in Zimbabwe.
“We welcomed this judgment; it set the throne with respect to this damaging issue which had been prohibiting girls from reaching their full potential, ” he said.
PIZ has been working alongside communities to educate traditional leaders, media and national governments on the dangers of child marriages.
The child rights organisation is involved in tackling the root cause of discrimination against children in general.
