Melinda Kusemachibi
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) recently issued a statement accusing Shangaan people of violating children rights by fueling child marriages through some of their cultural practices.
Khomba practice is a Shangaan cultural activity where boys and girls are purportedly initiated into adulthood through sexual related practices.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission Legal and Investigation Manager, Tinashe Larry Mazani said Khomba practice should not be done by minors as it allegedly stimulates child marriages that are skyrocketing.
“There should be strict enforcement of the age limit for initiation by local and traditional leaders. In order to avert child marriages, minors should be barred from Khomba cultural practice,” said Mazani.
However, Mazani highlighted that there is need for awareness in HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) since minors are now experimenting what they are taught at Khomba initiation ceremonies.
“There is limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, so there is need for extensive awareness specializing on HIV and AIDS in order to stop further engagement in risky sexual behavior such as the infamous ‘magate’, which affects marital relations and sexual health of the community,” said Mazani.
Vimbai Mutendereki from Shamwari yeMwanasikana said Shangaan cultural practices violates children’s rights and needs urgent probe.
“Khomba and Magate cultural practices should be looked into closely. There should be a joint venture amongst various stakeholders since it is not an individual thing to decide what intervention measures can be employed,” said Mutendereki.
Zimbabwe National Council for Welfare of Children national director, Rev Taylor Nyanhete said traditional leaders are custodians of law and should jealously protect the girl child.
“There is room for readdressing these issues and traditional leaders should be trained to safe guard the girl child. On issues of child marriages, there should be inclusion of local gatekeepers and traditional leaders,” said Nyanhete.
When a girl starts to have her menstrual cycle, she is considered ripe ‘akomba’, and she will start her Khomba lessons.
A Ward 7 Chiredzi Constituency village head Phelomon Magezani indicated that Khomba is part of their culture and every girl and boy should take part in it.
“This is what define us as Shangaan people, mostly boys and girls aged 18 years take part in this practice even elderly women take part in this initiation. When a girl reaches her puberty stage she is advised to take part in the practice,” said Magezani.
However, women’s rights pressure groups have alleged that older men are abusing the girl child soon after these lessons and getting away with it.
