Fighting child marriages

Mellah Nyamuba

Child marriage has become the talk of this blessed nation Zimbabwe as it is causing so many problems.

Child marriages are caused by many reasons, with the main cause being poverty that forces the family to force their girl children into marriage.

Another cause is abuse of the girl child.

Some forced child marriages are also a result of the practise of appeasing avenging spirits.

On the other hand, other young people who engage in sexual activities early often think that sleeping with their partners will strengthen their love, yet this is very wrong.

When one gets pregnant, she might be afraid to consult her parents so she might elope to someone who doesn’t love her.

Others may even try to abort the pregnancy or to commit suicide.

Unfortunately, child marriages have got serious effects.

When young girls get married, they risk suffering miscarriages as their bodies are not yet fully developed.

 

This may affect both the mother and her child.

Girls face physical abuse when they are married to older men who don’t love them.

 

She will be beaten each and every time.

Fortunately there are solutions to these challenges.

One must report to the nearest police station if she is being abused.

For hunger and starvation, there are some income generating projects for victims of child marriages.

There are also centres for child marriage victims where they are kept safe and equipped with various skills.

As the citizens of Zimbabwe, let’s fight against this together and say no to child marriages.

 

Mellah Nyamuba is a student at Muparutsa Secondary School