NEW: ‘Landmark ruling covers gaps in girl-child protection laws’  

WOMEN’s rights lobby groups under the banner of Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe have applauded last week’s Constitutional Court ruling which raised the legal age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 years. 

It is considered a landmark ruling insofar as it ensures relevant laws effectively protect young girls’ interests.  

The ruling follows an application by two young women – Loveness Mudzuru (19) and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi (18) – who challenged the Customary Marriages Act. 

The duo submitted that setting the age of consent at 16 years violated Section 78 of the Constitution. 

Women Lawyers Association director Mrs Abigail Matsvayi said the ruling is a step in the right direction.  

“As the women’s movement, we celebrate this milestone and we acknowledge that a lot still needs to be done to ensure that the country’s laws or legislative frameworks are able to fulfil this court judgment,” she said. 

“In this regard, therefore, we call upon Government to be able to prioritise the amendments of the Criminal Codification and Reform Act, and all other laws that need to be aligned in relation to the Constitutional Court judgment.  

“We also call on policymakers to spearhead the review of the national legislation and ensure that practices and customs that perpetuate sexual violence, abuse and exploitation of girls are done away with.”

In 2016, the Constitutional Court outlawed marriage before the age of 18 following a challenge to provisions of the marriage law that allowed child marriages. 

According to the new Marriages Act, which became law on Friday last week, all marriages and civil partnerships have to be of persons aged 18 years or over. 

Representing the Zimbabwe Blind Women Trust, Ms Irene Sithole welcomed the milestone decision as an enabler to protecting girls with disabilities from various forms of exploitation. 

“It is common cause that perpetrators target girls with disabilities because of their limited physical mobility or means of communication. Therefore, as girls with disabilities and adolescents, their risk of experiencing sexual violence or being lured or coerced into consenting to sexual intercourse increases. 

“Therefore, the judgment by the courts sets the tone for protecting girls with disabilities from the marauding society of sexual offenders who take advantages of them.”