Speed up alignment of laws barring child marriages: Mohadi
THE Minister of State for National Security Cde Kembo Mohadi has called for the urgent realignment of laws to stop marriages of children under 18 years of age.
He made the call in an interview on the sidelines of the wedding of his daughter Audrey (32) to Isheunesu Chikoto of Harare in Beitbridge at the weekend.
He said there was a strong need to align the laws with the landmark High Court ruling which outlawed the marriage of young girls.
“We agree with the High Court ruling, and we have to work on the law so that it becomes part of our statutes, so that we will be able to deal with child molesters effectively. It becomes very difficult to institute prosecution when there is no legislation to that effect,” he said.
Cde Mohadi urged members of the community to avoid forcing children into early marriages or arranging such (marriages) on their behalf.
“Let the children grow and be married at a mature age.
It is unheard of in our culture for people to go around impregnating or marrying children under 18 years. You don’t just get married when you have attained 18 years.
“We need to make rational (decisions) (sic), and act humanely. Early marriages should not be allowed in the country at all cost,” said Cde Mohadi.
He said the high level of such cases was appalling and threatening the moral fabric of society.
He added that issues of domestic violence and abuse were common especially in situations of arranged marriages.
Commenting on his daughter’s marriage, Cde Mohadi said: “I am very close to my daughters. Another part of me is happy that she (Audrey) is married, while I am also worried that I am letting her go.
“I wish them all the best in life. It is very important for the youths to preserve marriage, which is part of our culture as mankind,” he said.
The bride’s mother, Beitbridge Senator Cde Tambudzani Mohadi, urged other women and youths in the country to take a leaf from what she had done in raising her daughters.
“This is the last daughter that I am marrying off today (Saturday), and I want to urge members of the community to always work hard in preserving the basics of marriage.
“At the moment we are fighting for the girl child to be considered for equal posts with men and that cannot be achieved if we encourage child marriages.
Mothers should train their children in preparation of motherhood,” she said.
The groom’s mother, Mrs Hilda Chikoto, said it was important for people to always learn to find each other and be God-fearing so that they could live longer in matrimony.
The marriage ceremony, which included a helicopter ride by the newly-weds, was attended by close to 500 guests from across the country and South Africa.