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Yvonne Ncube, Showbiz Reporter
COVID-19 has placed children and families’ lives in disarray around the world, putting programmes to eliminate child marriages in jeopardy.
Although in Zimbabwean history, child marriages can be traced way before the pandemic, families, communities and economies are all suffering as a result of the pandemic.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) reports that 33,7% percent of girls under the age of 18 are married.
This indicates that one in every three girls under the age of 18 marries before the age of 18, compared to two percent of boys.
In response to this, a 23-year-old poetess, Sibonginkosi Christabel Netha has risen to the occasion to intensify the voice of the girl child through a poem dubbed, Who decides?
“The poem is a cry for every girl child out there.
I cry that the girl child must not be hampered with burdens of womanhood at infancy.
It’s an outcry that the destiny of the girl child must not be decided by perpetrators.
It’s the plight of the girls, that if ever there is someone to reverse these social constraints, may they rise and fight for us.
“The devastation of child marriage effectively ends a girl’s childhood.
Forced marriage robs a girl of her education, replacing lessons learned in the classroom with adult responsibilities, including forced pregnancy before she’s ready.
This not only violates her rights but risks her life, the lives of her children, and the future of her community,” Netha said.
Hailing from Sauerstown, Netha has pledged to use her talent in written and spoken poetry to advocate for the rights of the girl child.
She said she began poetry when she was in high school.
“I remember, I would perform at talent shows in high school.
Then when I left high school and moved to Bulawayo from South Africa, I used to attend events at Youth for Christ and that’s where I grew as a poetess.
I started performing at church talent shows and youth arts events.
In May 2019, I decided to enter the Lafarge poetry slam and I came second.
Surely it was truly a big moment for me.
“Since then, I’ve mentored poets in the 100girls 100voices competition with Intwasa and Plan International.
I’ve taken part in the Being Human Project founded by Kimoe and Sox the Poet and I’ve performed at Intwasa’s Women, Wine and Words twice. I count these as my achievements as they show that I’m now recognised as a poetess.”
Netha said she finds comfort in telling stories, advocating and amplifying the voices of the marginalised through poetry.
“I don’t know if it’s a natural calling, but poetry is something that I’ve always been able to do.
A gift, you could say.
I always have a lot to say and poetry, both written and oral, has always been the perfect way to say it,” she said while adding that she has written over 30 poems as well as short stories.
“I’ve also contributed to two anthologies titled Turquoise Dreams and Brilliance of Hope published by Carnelian Hearts Publishing.
I’m a student at Unisa studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
My social consciousness has led me to volunteer as a youth worker in the city who loves to work with young people teaching them life skills, leadership skills as well as giving career advice,” said Netha. – @SeehYvonne
Online Reporter