Takudzwa Ngadziore
The best parent any child can get is the
society in which the child lives therefore, in this case, the worst thing society
can do is neglecting its duty by letting the child be the parent.
society in which the child lives therefore, in this case, the worst thing society
can do is neglecting its duty by letting the child be the parent.
Sadly, each morning we wake up to skate on such
thin ice due to the high prevalence of child marriages in Zimbabwe.
thin ice due to the high prevalence of child marriages in Zimbabwe.
According to Plan International, this social
ill is defined as ‘any marriage where at least one of the parties is under 18
years of age.”
ill is defined as ‘any marriage where at least one of the parties is under 18
years of age.”
The Zimbabwe National Students Unions (Zinasu) at
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) stands firm in denouncing such acts as they
destroy the future of many potential leaders in society.
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) stands firm in denouncing such acts as they
destroy the future of many potential leaders in society.
Excruciatingly, 31 percent of girls are in dire
straits and more of them could end up in this situation if this social evil is
left to breathe.
straits and more of them could end up in this situation if this social evil is
left to breathe.
Statistical data by Plan International
indicates that four percent of the girls were married under 15 years of age.
indicates that four percent of the girls were married under 15 years of age.
Furthermore, 60 percent of women aged between
18 and 24 have had sexual intercourse before the age of 18.
18 and 24 have had sexual intercourse before the age of 18.
Each and every part of the society must stand
firm to react before this epidemic turns to be a pandemic situation. The union
believes unity is the solution when tackling such a problem.
firm to react before this epidemic turns to be a pandemic situation. The union
believes unity is the solution when tackling such a problem.
Efforts towards poverty eradication must be
made by government. Economic instability has profoundly been a contributing
factor to the upbringing of this animal called “child marriages”.
made by government. Economic instability has profoundly been a contributing
factor to the upbringing of this animal called “child marriages”.
Putting into consideration the cases recorded
in Mashonaland Central (50 percent), Mashonaland West (42 percent), Midlands
(42 percent) and other provinces; there is need for the government to beat the
clock.
in Mashonaland Central (50 percent), Mashonaland West (42 percent), Midlands
(42 percent) and other provinces; there is need for the government to beat the
clock.
In one stroke, there is need to create an
environment that can accommodate one’s dream, reward sweat and remunerate pain!
environment that can accommodate one’s dream, reward sweat and remunerate pain!
This enables the biological parents, guardians
and even the society at large to assist a child before light is replaced by
darkness.
and even the society at large to assist a child before light is replaced by
darkness.
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the
most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
The girls at risk of dropping out of education
should be supported morally and financially through the introduction of more
scholarships and programmes like Basic Education Module (Beam) by government, churches,
civic organisations and companies.
should be supported morally and financially through the introduction of more
scholarships and programmes like Basic Education Module (Beam) by government, churches,
civic organisations and companies.
GZU Zinasu believes in the saying that if you
educate the girl child you have educated a nation but the question is: What
role should you play to deal with child marriages? Identifying that role would lead
to prevention, reduction of the rate of child marriages.
educate the girl child you have educated a nation but the question is: What
role should you play to deal with child marriages? Identifying that role would lead
to prevention, reduction of the rate of child marriages.
The factor behind the rise of this evil is for good
men to do nothing, to borrow the words of Edmund Burke.
men to do nothing, to borrow the words of Edmund Burke.
The existence of marriage legal instruments plays
a crucial role in efforts to prevent and control child marriages. These laws
should, however, be implemented, enforced and monitored without fail.
a crucial role in efforts to prevent and control child marriages. These laws
should, however, be implemented, enforced and monitored without fail.
The 2013 Constitution specifically sections 78,
56 and 26, Domestic Violence Act and Customary Marriages Act are key when
dealing with this cancer.
56 and 26, Domestic Violence Act and Customary Marriages Act are key when
dealing with this cancer.
The laws do not only focus on vulnerable children
living in the shadows of child marriages but also those already swimming in the
dead pool, facing vices like gender based violence.
living in the shadows of child marriages but also those already swimming in the
dead pool, facing vices like gender based violence.
The judicial sector should henceforth act in
total commitment to fight the vice of child marriages and punish offenders.
total commitment to fight the vice of child marriages and punish offenders.
GZU Zinasu believes that the fight against
child marriages can also be won if government unveils programmes to help poor
students meet their fees requirements.
child marriages can also be won if government unveils programmes to help poor
students meet their fees requirements.
Students from poor families are vulnerable to
abuse by older men and many of them drop out of school after failing to pay
tuition, get married early and bear children who will be equally vulnerable.
The cycle continues over and over again unless there is some deliberate effort
on the part of all stakeholders to make a change.
abuse by older men and many of them drop out of school after failing to pay
tuition, get married early and bear children who will be equally vulnerable.
The cycle continues over and over again unless there is some deliberate effort
on the part of all stakeholders to make a change.
It is against this background that GZU Zinasu
believes a child’s life should be like piece of paper on which every person
leaves a mark.
believes a child’s life should be like piece of paper on which every person
leaves a mark.
The word orphan should not exist in a country
like ours where resources can be shared more equitably to ensure that the
economic factors behind child marriages are destroyed.
like ours where resources can be shared more equitably to ensure that the
economic factors behind child marriages are destroyed.
The writer is the Zinasu president at GZU
