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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
EFFORTS to eliminate child marriages in Chipinge District have seen Government collaborate with a development partner, Diocese of Mutare Community Care Programme (DOMCCP), to engage several schools by organising an arts festival meant to raise awareness on child marriages.
The arts festival was held at Emarald Secondary School recently to drive the message home of the need for communities to step up the fight against the scourge blighting society.
DOMCCP programmes officer Mr Ronald Chihana said the event served as an edutainment strategy whose purpose was to educate and entertain at the same time about child marriages.
He added that this is part of their plans to sensitise both parents and children on the issue at hand and also raise awareness about climate change using performing arts as a medium.
“As DOMCCP, we are taking this initiative to teach our children on the dangers of abuse they face such as child marriages as well as to remind the parents of their duty to protect minors. We also used that platform to educate them about climate change,” said Mr Chihana.
A district officer from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Chipinge, Mr Allington Nhamo, emphasised the importance of arts in spotlighting community issues.
Said Nhamo: “This is an important event to us as a ministry because the initiative provides a platform for pupils to learn about issues affecting the communities they live in as we join hands in efforts to curb child marriages in our district.”
Meanwhile, cases of child marriage are gradually decreasing in Chipinge and Chimanimani districts owing to massive awareness campaigns being carried out by Government and development partners.
Online Reporter