Opinion by Conrad Gweru

The recent news, as reported by this publication, of a 26-year-old man fatally beating his 9-month-old stepdaughter during a domestic dispute with his 14-year-old “wife” is not just a tragedy—it is an indictment of a society that has lost its moral compass. This incident is nothing more than a reminder that child marriage remains a crisis, robbing girls of their childhood, dignity, and future. What we are witnessing is not a marriage, but an orchestrated abuse of a child who, instead of being nurtured and protected, has been subjected to repeated violations under the guise of matrimony. This girl, now a grieving mother and widow before even reaching adulthood, deserved better.
The 14-year-old, in this case, is not, and never was, a wife. She is a child—legally, emotionally, and physically. Yet, somewhere along the way, society chose to strip her of her rights, assigning her the role of a wife and mother before she could fully comprehend what that even meant. The abuse that she endured was sanctioned, either implicitly or explicitly, by a system that has failed to uphold the rights and dignity of the girl child. Those who presided over this so-called marriage—whether it be family members, religious leaders, or community elders—must be held accountable. The law must answer the question: Who allowed this to happen?
Zimbabwe’s legal framework on marriage is clear. The Marriages Act (Chapter 5:17) and the Constitution prohibit child marriages, setting the legal age of marriage at 18. The Constitutional Court has further reinforced this by declaring child marriages unconstitutional in a landmark ruling. Anyone facilitating, presiding over, or endorsing such unions is complicit in breaking the law and must be prosecuted. The tragic events surrounding this 14-year-old mother and her deceased child are not just the result of domestic violence; they are the consequences of a legally and morally deplorable situation that should never have been allowed to exist.
Every girl forced into marriage is a girl denied an education, personal growth, and a chance to dream. She is robbed of her childhood, pushed into the hardships of motherhood and marital responsibilities while still trying to navigate adolescence. The psychological toll is devastating. Many of these girls suffer from complications related to early pregnancies, heightened risks of domestic abuse, and a life of economic dependence. Their aspirations are reduced to mere survival in an environment where they should be thriving.
Child marriage is a gateway to a cycle of poverty and oppression. It cuts off opportunities, leaving girls with little to no agency over their lives. This is not just a family issue—it is a national crisis that demands urgent intervention.
If we, as a society, allow a child to be called a wife, we have reached a dangerous low. When we normalize the abuse of young girls by calling it marriage, we are complicit in their suffering. The fabric of our society is broken when a 14-year-old is expected to run a household, bear children, and endure domestic violence as though she were an adult. This is not culture. This is not tradition. This is a gross violation of human rights.
The tragedy of this young mother and her deceased child is not an isolated case. It is part of a much larger pattern of systemic failure—one that requires the concerted effort of the government, law enforcement, civil society, and traditional and religious leaders to dismantle. More needs to be done to protect the girl child. Strict enforcement of laws, community awareness, and severe consequences for those who facilitate child marriages must be prioritized.
It is disheartening, heartbreaking, and infuriating that such stories continue to emerge in Zimbabwe. This is never a good read. It is a call to action. If we truly believe in a future where our children are safe and empowered, we must rise against child marriages with unwavering determination. No girl should be a wife. No child should be forced to bear children.
The time to act is now. If we continue to turn a blind eye, we are all complicit in the next tragedy.

Conrad Gweru is a renowned journalist, specialising in communications, policy, and advocacy. He writes in his personal capacity and can be reached via email on cgweru03@gmail.com or mobile +263788420236

By Beverly Bizeki

While efforts to combat period poverty have gained traction, menstrual health management advocate Tichamupei Comfort Chivore says men remain a crucial but often overlooked part of menstrual health management.
Chivore who leads a movement on addressing period poverty said there was need to educate boys on menstruation, challenging the cultural taboo that keeps men out of the conversation.
“Men rarely discuss menstruation, this is why I started talking to boys, it’s considered a taboo topic. Educating boys fosters responsible men who understand menstrual hygiene. If we can raise men who are comfortable buying sanitary pads for their sisters, daughters, or partners, we can help address some of the challenges girls face,” said Chivore.
Chivore said menstruation remains a taboo in some rural communities and poses many dangers to girls’ health and self-esteem.
“The reason I started this menstrual hygiene journey is that many people, including men, know very little about the subject. I have worked in rural areas for a long time and have seen firsthand the struggles girls face when they lack proper menstrual hygiene resources,” Chivore said.
She said the challenges girls encounter, including missing school due to a lack of sanitary products or attending without adequate materials, which can lead to soiled uniforms and public humiliation had a negative impact on their self-esteem.
“Some girls abscond from school, while others come unprepared and end up soiling their uniforms. Boys often laugh at and ridicule them, which negatively impacts the girls’ self-esteem. Some eventually drop out of school,” she said.
She also pointed out that many girls in rural areas resort to using unsafe materials, leading to serious health risks.
“In some remote areas where access to menstrual products is scarce, girls use harmful materials, which can lead to infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). Once infected, getting medical treatment becomes another challenge. That’s why our pad drive advocacy also involves educating young mothers, girls, and boys to remove the stigma and ensure better menstrual health management,” Chivore said.
She stressed the importance of teaching girls in marginalized communities how to make reusable pads with safe materials, as well as raising awareness about the dangers of untreated infections.
“Beyond the loss of confidence due to a lack of sanitary materials, we also need to address the health risks. If these infections go untreated, they can worsen, but stigma often prevents open discussions in our communities,” she said.
Chivore called on well-wishers to support the cause by donating pads, providing transport, educating children on menstrual hygiene, and supplying materials for reusable pads.
A study by SNV Zimbabwe revealed that 72 percent of menstruating school girls do not use sanitary products because they are not affordable while other reports show that 62 percent of girls in rural schools miss school every month due to period poverty.

By Tatiana Mhararira

Church of Christ run Living Proof Academy from Gutu won the Zimbabwe Spelling Bee Masvingo Zone 1 competitions held at the school on March 18, 2025.
The school Vice Principal and Spelling Bee Club Patron, Tinashe Marecha shared the school’s remarkable journey to becoming champions of the Masvingo Zone 1 Spelling Bee Competition and said determination had earned them the success.
“In 2024, we were at the Zimbabwe Spelling Bee Competition with a small team of four learners. Although we didn’t secure top-ten positions, the experience sparked our determination to improve. This year, our Spelling Bee Club worked diligently, often until 2100 hours and during weekends, to refine their skills.
“To ensure our participants were well-prepared, we conducted several rehearsals in front of our learners and staff members. We also utilized online resources, such as watching last year’s finals from Wise Owl High School on YouTube, to provide our learners with a realistic understanding of the competition. Each learner was provided with the official word list from the Spelling Bee organizers,” said Marecha.
Marecha said he was the proud of the achievements as a smaller school and thanked the stakeholders who contributed to the school’s success in the competitions.
“As a new school, with less than 300 learners and only three years of operation, we were not expected to pose a significant challenge to more established schools. However, our victory has sent a clear message that we are a force to be reckoned with.
“Our sincerest gratitude goes to our School Principal, Ushe Paradza for his unwavering support, as well as to our teachers, the entire Living Proof High family, and parents for their unrelenting encouragement. We eagerly anticipate representing Masvingo Zone 1 at the national level and making our mark on the Zimbabwe Spelling Bee Competition,” said Marecha.
Speaking to TellZim News, Zimbabwe Spelling Bee, National Coordinator, Enny Chomsora said the competition was highly competitive as learners and coaches prepared well for the tournament.
“The learners did an outstanding job, demonstrating exceptional preparation and dedication to the event. They thoroughly studied the wordlist, and it paid off, with most of them acing every word in each round.
“I extend my sincerest gratitude to the coaches for their tireless efforts in guiding the students to success and the top 10 junior and top 10 senior learners will represent the Masvingo region in the national finals this September. We wish them all the best,” said Chomsora.
Chomsora said they had challenges however with people who had disputes with the judgement.
“The problems we got during the competitions were those of people who had disputes with the judges’ judgment so there is a dispute desk for those with disputes. The decision from there will be final,” she said.
From Juniors’ side, Matidaishe Kurauone and Delight Mbizanah from Tshovani Primary scooped the first and second position respectively and Chiredzi primary had five of its learners in the top ten.
National Zimbabwe Spelling Bee will have hundreds of learners participating and the winners will proceed to Africa Spelling Bee competitions with different countries with winners going to USA for the SCRIPPS USA spelling bee competitions.
Out of 17 participants from the host school, 7 leaners qualified for the national tournament namely Makomborero Chiredzi, Beverly Banda, Kudakwashe Muzofo, Tawananyasha Chizodza and Daisy Rugwinya with Dorcas Chitingwiza and Faith Makonese winning gold and silver medals respectively.
The tournament had 14 schools with a total of 192 participants and the following schools were in attendance primary schools being Chivhu Junior, Gutu United, Tshovani, Sandon Academy Junior, Chiredzi, Melbourne and St Antony Junior.
High schools included the host, Assisi, Rufaro, Hippo Valley Estate, Sandon Academy Senior, and St Antony Senior.
Zimbabwe Spelling Bee is an educational program where learners compete in spelling competitions.