Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
TRADITIONAL leaders have made an undertaking to go all out to protect adolescent girls from child marriages and other forms of sexual abuse such as rape as well as ensuring the rights of all children are upheld.
Speaking after a four-day “Not in My Village” campaign orientation workshop held in Gweru this week, the chiefs said the training was an eye-opener as they now appreciate the severity of child marriages and teen pregnancies, which they said adversely affects the country’s development.
They also suggested the establishment of income generating projects to address poverty, which they said was contributing to child marriages.
Chiefs from Matabeleland South, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West attended the workshop.
Chief Maduna from Insiza District said among his interventions will be the establishment of a system that promotes reporting of child abuse cases.
He said cases of children below 10 years who fell pregnant in his district last year were concerning.
“This workshop has been an eye opener and we now appreciate the severity of child marriages and teenage pregnancies in our communities.
“This was a very important workshop for us as traditional leaders. These social ills have a huge impact on our communities as they are destroying the future of these young girls,” he said.
Chief Maduna said the physical, psychological and social effects of child marriage and teenage pregnancies were well explained during the workshop.
He said his position now was that young girls and boys must be fully protected as they are the country’s future leaders.
Chief Maduna said he will engage his subjects and religious leaders, among other stakeholders to work together to ensure children are protected and their rights are upheld.
Senator Chief Dandawa from Hurungwe District said community dialogue on how to uphold children’s rights was crucial for national development.
He stressed the need for adequate information dissemination saying all community leaders must be involved.
Chief Dandawa said it was important to take on board parents and guardians if the fight against child abuse is to be won.
Chief Chinamhora from Goromonzi District said the orientation workshop marks the start of a new era whereby chiefs and police complement each other, to bring to book those that abuse children or violate their rights.
He said he was going to push for implementation of more income-generating projects to eliminate poverty.
“The challenge in our communities is that some of these matters are being swept under the carpet. I expect my headmen and village heads to come on board in ensuring that no part of my area is left out as we work to stop child marriages and teenage pregnancies,” he said.
Zimbabwe last year recorded 10 846 child sexual abuse cases compared to 9 916 cases in 2023.
The offences include rape, attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, online child sexual abuse and sexual intercourse or performing indecent acts with children between 12 and 18 years.
Over 8 900 adolescent girls and teenagers from eight districts in the country fell pregnant last year while over 6 800 gave birth either at home or at health facilities and six died during delivery.
Chipinge, Mutare, Goromonzi, Murehwa, Hurungwe, Chegutu, Beitbridge and Insiza District, have been selected to pilot the “Not in My Village” campaign meant to fight sexual violence against adolescent girls.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care already show that nine children below 10 years were reported pregnant in Chipinge, Mutare, Insiza and Chegutu districts.
The Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is spearheading the “Not in My Village” campaign. The initiative is youth-led, driven by the Young People’s Network on Health and Wellbeing (YPNHW), in partnership with NAC. The campaign was launched at Nzvimbo High School in Mazowe District, Mashonaland Central and is now expanding to Matabeleland South, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West.
The campaign is community-based and aims to raise awareness, mobilise action and empower community gatekeepers to end child marriages. It involves engaging religious and traditional leaders such as chiefs and headmen who have the authority and respect to challenge the harmful practices and attitudes that support child marriage.
Chiefs have been capacitated to take a leading role in their communities to mobilise joint community efforts to tackle adolescent teenage pregnancies.
-@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu