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Freedom Mupanedemo
Midlands Bureau
Zimbabwe recorded worrying figures of child pregnancies and marriages during the Covid-19 induced lockdown with Mashonaland Central coming up tops in child pregnancies, statistics compiled by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission show.
Mashonaland Central recorded 56,2 percent cases of child pregnancies.
Mashonaland West came second with 41.7 percent cases of child pregnancies while Masvingo was third with 35.3 percent.
Chairperson of the Gender Commission, Commissioner Margret Sangarwe who revealed the statistics while addressing a national Gender Forum in Gweru last week said it was worrying that the Covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe brought with it more misery for juveniles, especially the girl child.
“It is worrisome to note that the situation (child pregnancies and marriages) has been further heightened by the Covid 19 pandemic and other humanitarian situations. During lockdown period, we have witnessed cases of child marriages escalating while a lot of young girls fell pregnant and were married off before the age of 18,” said Comm Sangarwe.
She said the commission embarked on a national inquiry into child marriages and pregnancies and statistics were showing that the rate shot up during lockdown periods.
She said child marriages were affecting girls mostly with Mashonaland West topping the charts in child abuse with 56.2 percent.
“Statistics show the girl child is the most affected and out of the total of 56.2 percent cases recorded in Mashonaland Central, 49.5 percent were girls while 6.7percent were boys.
Mashonaland West had the second highest number of abuses with 41.7 percent girls that fell pregnant and 5.6 percent boys who married before the age,” she said.
Bulawayo had the least with only 13.5 percent of child marriage cases followed by Harare which had 21.7 percent.
Comm Sangarwe said outside lockdown, the commission noted that poverty and religion were also drivers of child pregnancies and abuse.
“Poverty has been found also as a contributing factor to child marriages. Religious doctrine is also used to perpetuate child marriage practices but what is worrying is that numerous cases go unreported citing lack of transparency within enforcing authorities while some parents prefer internal dispute settlements,” she said.
Comm Sangarwe said the commission was also conducting a national inquiry into sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls and child marriages in Apostolic sects.
She said the commission was working on the unilateral end to child marriages while advocating for a minimum mandatory sentence to be put in place as a deterrent measure to abuse of women and girls.
“However, we acknowledge at national level the various efforts by government and other stakeholders to address the matter through establishing a sound legislative framework to prevent violence against women,” she said.
Online Reporter