The pain of child marriage

Ruvarashe Tembo

FOR me, poverty, anger and suicidal thoughts are the order of the day.

I often ask myself

Who really am I?

What will the world gain from me?

I am a girl.

They forced me to get into a union before the legal age of marriage.

They did not even give me the chance to complete my studies.

If I were a boy, I know they would have given me that chance.

They would even have called me heir.

Now I am married.

My husband does not even buy food or pay rent

and school fees for the children.

I then decide to work for my children,

but my husband says,

“As long as you are in my house, you will not work.”

He says my job is to look after the children.

I am now living in abject poverty

because of people who do not respect my rights.

I, however, do not blame them entirely,

as they were probably not educated enough on children’s rights.

 

◆ Ruvarashe Tembo is a student at Destiny Achievers Group of Schools.