Chief Mutasa fights child marriages

Gabrielle Gede Manicaland Correspondent
CHIEF Mutasa has joined hands with a non-profit making organisation in his chiefdom in fighting child marriages through an array of awareness programmes.

Plan International has since handed over US$1 000 to Chief Mutasa to fund a number of awareness programmes aimed at ending child marriages.

“I recently received a certificate from Plan International and US$1 000 directed towards programmes aimed at ending child marriages,” he said.

“I am working on producing pamphlets talking about ending child marriages and they will be distributed to most headmen and chiefs enlightening them on the dangers of allowing child marriages to our children.” Chief Mutasa said he would be looking forward to reduce school dropouts as a result of child marriages.

Chief Mutasa hailed courts for fighting child marriages by heavily punishing offenders, sending a clear message to the communities and would be offenders.

He applauded Mutare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe for his stance against child marriages. Chief Mutasa said Mr Mahwe recently jailed a 54-year-old man to 14 years behind bars for marrying a 14-year-old girl.

He also said magistrate Mr Perseverance Makhala jailed another woman for marrying off her daughter to her boyfriend, a clear testimony of how the courts were discouraging child marriages.

“We are happy the law is supporting our goal on ending child marriages in the nation as we have a number of cases whereby abusive people were jailed for child marriages,” he said.

Chief Mutasa said he once went to Malawi representing the country as a child marriage advocator where he presented a multiple cases on child marriages in Manicaland province. He said while in Malawi, he had an opportunity to interact with Chief Kachindamoto, who is internationally known for ending 1000 child marriages and sending the girls back to school.

“Apart from the social behaviour change that result in early sexual activities engagement, we are being affected by retardation of mindset for most African people especially religious and cultural extremists,” he said.

Chief Mutasa equated child marriage to child abuse.