adminMercy Ngwebvu
WHILE the discovery of diamonds at the Chiadzwa diamond fields was a welcome economic development, it brought its own challenges to the surrounding communities.
One of the major challenges being child marriages as the girl child was lured into early marriage by the spoils from the diamonds earnings. School drop-outs became the order of the day.
Having realised that most girls were falling prey to the diamond money, World Vision in collaboration with other stakeholders, Restless Development and ENSURE targeted the Chakohwa community for this year’s Day of the African Child commemorations.
On Tuesday, hundreds of schoolchildren from Chimanimani District gathered at Chakohwa High School to commemorate the Day of the African Child, with special emphasis on the issue of child marriages in Zimbabwe and Africa at large.
This year’s theme is: “Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriages in Africa.”
Speaking at the commemorations, junior Member of Parliament for Chimanimani Allen Mudiwa emphasised on how child marriages are a violation to child rights and should therefore be eliminated.
“Child marriage, which is the marriage of a person below the age of 18, is a violation to the rights of every child. The African Charter recognises child marriage as a violation of all the four pillars of child rights, which are survival, development, protection and participation. As children, we beseech the responsible authorities to help us fight child marriages.
“Improving access to education, especially for girls is an effective way of eliminating child marriages. The introduction of Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) by Government has somehow contributed towards the reduction of the vice by ensuring that children remain in school and we are forever indebted to it and overwhelmed with gratitude,” said Allen.
A representative from World Vision, Ms Kresensia Shoko, urged girl children to take it upon themselves to fight child marriages by saying No to this and reporting every case despite all the threats and challenges they may face when trying to make reports.
Said Kresensia: “As World Vision, we have the best interests of children at heart, especially girl children as they are most vulnerable. The organisation is there to empower children and as I stand here today I want to tell all the children to stand firm and say No to child marriages. When faced with this challenge, do not be afraid to report these cases to the police because it is a criminal offence for any child to be forced into early marriage. Children need to be strong if they are going to enjoy life in all its fullness.”
Some of the school children also spoke about child marriages and how they are affecting them.
“I am not directly affected by child marriages, but my peers have fallen victim to them. A close relative of mine was forced into a marriage because the parents thought the marriage would be a source of income, but it has not. Instead it has caused my relative untold suffering and this shows that child marriages are a serious issue.
“A certain girl at our school was also affected. Because of poverty, she had her fees paid for by an elderly family friend on condition that she would be his wife after finishing her O-Level studies. Though she had very good grades, she had to honour her end of the deal and it is so sad that a lot of potential in girl children can go unnoticed simply because of issues like child marriages,” said Kudzai Chimutunzi, a Form Four student at Biriiri High School.
A teacher from Lydia Chimonyo High School, Mrs Margaret Chijokwe, urged girls to set their priorities straight as most of them jump into early marriages because they take marriage as the best achievement a girl can have.
“We know that the issue of child marriages is a big problem within our societies, but girl children also need to be very serious about life. Most of them get into love relationships at a tender age and they go wild. Before long they get married while young and that breeds a lot of problems like domestic violence and contraction of diseases like HIV and Aids.
“Child marriages are not about being forced only. Others are as a result of willful choices by our children. Girls should make wise choices and take their keep education seriously,” said Mrs Chijokwe.
The Day of the African Child is marked by all members of the African Union to take stock of the progress and the outstanding challenges towards the full realisation of the rights of children in the region.
It has been set aside in recognition of the day when in 1976, thousands of black school children in Soweto, South Africa took to the streets to protest against inferior quality of education.
Online Reporter