Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
OVER 100 female learners from Matabeleland South province dropped out of school during the second quarter of this year, with teenage pregnancies cited as the leading cause. Other reasons for dropping out include child marriages, illnesses, and financial challenges.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, presented at a National AIDS Council (NAC) stakeholders’ meeting in Gwanda, 115 female learners and 27 male learners left school during the second quarter.
Of the 115 females, 66 dropped out due to teenage pregnancies, 24 due to illnesses, 20 as a result of child marriages, and five because of financial difficulties.
“Understanding the reasons behind learners dropping out of school is crucial for developing targeted interventions. Economic factors, early pregnancies, and primary responsibilities remain the main drivers of educational discontinuation,” reads part of the report.
Stakeholders have emphasised the need to intensify interventions aimed at combating teenage pregnancies and early child marriages.
NAC Matabeleland South monitoring and evaluation officer, Mrs Sarah Hove, stated educational retention remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention. Maintaining high enrolment rates across districts is critical, which is why HIV prevention has been integrated into the curriculum.
“School-based programmes provide vital platforms for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information. These interventions create safe spaces for young people to access information and services, while also reducing stigma and discrimination.
“University and college students represent a critical demographic for HIV prevention. Data from the second quarter of 2025 shows significant engagement, particularly among female students accessing comprehensive health services. A total of 6 248 youths in tertiary institutions were reached with HIV prevention information, and 59 peer educators were active. In total, 201 females and 15 males accessed HIV services,” she said.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, presented during a “Not in My Village” chief’s orientation training workshop in Gweru, indicate that last year 8 900 adolescent girls and teenagers from eight districts across the country were reported pregnant after seeking antenatal care. Over 6 800 delivered either at home or in health facilities, and six died during delivery.
The affected districts — Chipinge, Mutare, Goromonzi, Murehwa, Hurungwe, Chegutu, Beitbridge, and Insiza — have been selected to pilot the “Not in My Village” campaign.
Further statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care reveal that nine children under the age of 10 were reported pregnant in Chipinge, Mutare, Insiza, and Chegutu districts.
Official reports show that teenage pregnancies and child marriages are more prevalent in rural communities, particularly in resettlement areas, mining communities, border regions, and areas dominated by religious sects.
In Hurungwe and Chegutu districts, approximately 30 percent of adolescents were married before the age of 18. Murehwa district recorded 2 976 child marriages last year, while Goromonzi recorded 1 048 cases. In Beitbridge, over 30 000 child marriages were recorded, and Insiza recorded 20 872. In Chipinge, 12 863 cases of teenage pregnancies and child marriages were reported.
According to the 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Mashonaland Central has the highest prevalence of child marriages at 50 percent, followed by Mashonaland West at 41,7 percent, Mashonaland East at 37,8 percent, and Manicaland at 36 percent. Masvingo stands at 35,5 percent, followed by Matabeleland North at 32,9 percent, Midlands at 30,4 percent, Matabeleland South at 22,2 percent, Harare at 21,7 percent, and Bulawayo at 13,5 percent.
These alarming figures have prompted urgent action from community leaders and stakeholders.
The Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is spearheading the “Not in My Village” campaign.
The initiative is youth-led, driven by the Young People’s Network on Health and Wellbeing (YPNHW), in partnership with NAC. The campaign was launched last year during World Population Day commemorations at Nzvimbo High School in Mazowe District, Mashonaland Central, and has since expanded to Matabeleland South, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, and Mashonaland West.
Eliminating child marriages and teenage pregnancies aligns with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which aims to create a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society by 2030. — @DubeMatutu
