adminTafadzwa Ndlovu Herald Reporter
Government has challenged traditional leaders to take a leading role in bringing to book perpetrators of early child marriages, a practice that is now contributing to gender based violence. Speaking at a seminar on early child marriages held in Harare yesterday, Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Deputy Minister Abigail Damasane said early marriages were detrimental to children’s basic rights, particularly the girl child.
“Children who marry early are often deprived of their basic rights to health, education, development and equality.
“We are happy to engage and support traditional leaders to empower women and inform their communities about the laws and penalties relating to violence against women,” she said.
“Traditional leaders need to enforce harsh community sanctions against perpetrators of violence against women and those who engage in early childhood marriages.
“It is important to link traditional leaders with the justice system, the police, social services and health systems for them to deal with perpetrators effectively,” said Deputy Minister Damasane. Traditional leaders were also urged to set good standards in terms of cultural beliefs and values in their communities so that their subjects will emulate.
Plan International organised the seminar in partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development to educate chiefs on children’s rights. The seminar was held under the theme “18+: Ending Child Marriage in Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs president, Chief Fortune Charumbira hailed the initiative and urged his counterparts to lead by example. “Co-ordination is critical when it comes to certain practices that harm our community and now that we are involved we can do our best to fight gender based violence,” he said.
Online Reporter