Manicaland makes headway in ending child marriages

ZIMBABWE recently raised the age of consent to 18 years, thereby criminalising sexual relations with minors, and it is hoped that the prevalence of sexual violence against children will be significently reduced in Manicaland.

The law seeks to reduce the sexual abuse of children which continues to be a cause for concern in Manicaland in particular and the country at large.

Manicaland has the fourth highest number of child marriages in the country, with 36 percent of girls and 3.4 percent of boys getting married at a young age.

The province has improved slightly from its previous record of being the leading province in the country.

Despite the improvements, the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZimStat) confirms that the levels of child marriages remain very high in Zimbabwe and Manicaland in particular.

According to the most recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, one in three Zimbabwean minor girls (32.6 percent) and four percent boys are getting married before the age of 18.

In a statement, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said Government and its development partners have made several interventions to curtail sexual relations involving children under the age of 18.

“Part of Government and development partners’ interventions include education assistance for the affected children, food assistance, sustainable livelihoods, harmonised social cash transfer programs, and other initiatives that are aimed at reducing poverty driven child marriages.

“There were efforts to establish onestop centres and having awareness campaigns. Tied to that is the establishment of community and parenting groups-improving parenting skills and the importance of communities in raising children.

“As a result of the interventions, vulnerability was reduced, the quality of life was improved and life opportunities were increased for the people of Manicaland, and this has led to the reduction in child marriages cases in the province,” reads part of the statement.

In a separate statement, UNICEF commended Government for enacting the law that raises the age of consent to 18 years.

UNICEF said this will contribute to the reduction of sexual abuse of children.

“Available data suggest that in Zimbabwe, over a third of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18 years. For most of these girls, the perpetrators are intimate partners.

“Sexual violence on children has a significant impact on girls and boys who experience it. The effect is both physical as well as psychological.

“It can impact education, create mental disorders, and jeopardise a healthy sexual life at a later age. Sexual violence can lead to an early pregnancy when the girl is not mentally and physically ready to give birth or take care of a baby.

“Early pregnancies often lead to child marriage and school drop-outs, thereby preventing girls from developing their full potential.

“As we applaud the decision taken to prosecute adults who sexually abuse children, UNICEF calls on Government to also continue to invest in the prevention of sexual abuse of children and support to victims,” reads the statement.

UNICEF further noted that children deserve to grow up in a safe environment.

“Based on the lessons from existing initiatives by Government and its partners, prevention and support programmes must be continued and scaled up. Everybody in Zimbabwe must understand that sexual abuse of children is not acceptable, and they need to act accordingly and speak up.

“With the legislation passed raising the age of consent to 18 years, Zimbabwe has taken a new step in dealing with sexual abuse of children. The time has come to put it to an end.

“Children deserve to grow up in a safe environment. It is our shared responsibility to break the silence, to help prevent sexual abuse of children, and by extension all forms of violence against children, and to ensure children that are victims of violence, abuse and exploitation get the attention, assistance and support they need,” said UNICEF.