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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

APPROXIMATELY 6 000 teenagers from Matabeleland South were impregnated last year, with Beitbridge and Insiza districts accounting for the majority of cases, according to recent statistics.

Beitbridge has the highest teenage pregnancy burden, followed by Insiza District. The province also recorded 85 372 cases of female teenage marriages, with Beitbridge leading at 31 248 cases, followed by Insiza with 20 872 cases.

During a presentation at the National Aids Council (NAC)-led “Not in My Village” campaign provincial inception meeting, Matabeleland South NAC provincial manager, Mr Mgcini Sibanda, revealed that Beitbridge and Insiza will pilot the campaign due to their high teenage pregnancy rates.

Mr Sibanda said in 2024, the province recorded about 5 700 cases of teenagers aged 10 to 19 who were booked for antenatal care (ANC).

“In Beitbridge, rural hotspot areas for teenage pregnancies include Chasvingo, Dite, Tongwe, and Lutumba, where many girls are not attending school. These girls also engage in cross-border activities and attend late-night parties, which are prevalent and put them at risk,” he said.

“In Beitbridge urban, wards covering areas such as Dulivadzimu, Khwalu, Madiginye, and Mabidi/Siyoka have the highest burden of early marriage rates. These areas often have absent parents and should be prioritised,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said hotspot areas for early child marriages in Insiza include Alpha area in Ward 13, Mpalawani in Ward 21, and Kombo in Ward 22. These areas have limited educational opportunities, and cultural and religious beliefs often support early marriages. Other hotspots include the Lambani area in Ward 20 and Shangani area in Ward 23, where artisanal mining activities are prevalent.

According to NAC statistics, more than 100 000 out of approximately 750 000 people in Matabeleland South are living with HIV, translating to a 17.3 percent prevalence rate. The statistics also show that girls aged 15 to 24 account for the highest HIV incidence rate, being affected six times more than their male counterparts.

“Females are disproportionately affected from the age group of 15–19 up to 35–39 years. For ages 15–19, the female incidence rate is six times higher than that of males, with males recording 0.6 percent and females 4 percent,” said Mr Sibanda.

“Bulilima and Mangwe districts have the highest HIV incidence in the province. The incidence rate for females is almost twice that of their male counterparts. Beitbridge has the lowest incidence among females, followed by Umzingwane,” he added.

According to the Multiple Cluster Indicator Survey (2019), rural girls are twice as likely to marry before the age of 18 compared to their urban counterparts. Out of 99 girls aged 15 to 19 sampled in Matabeleland South for the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey 2023–24, a total of 25.7 percent had been pregnant.

Launched as a pilot programme in Mashonaland Central province last year, the “Not in My Village” campaign is now being rolled out to other provinces, including Matabeleland South. The campaign is a community-based initiative aimed at raising awareness and mobilising action by engaging traditional leaders to end child marriages.

The campaign seeks to:
– Increase knowledge and awareness among traditional leaders and the general public about child marriage, its causes, and consequences.
– Change attitudes and behaviours of community gatekeepers and the public towards child marriage.
– Promote the rights and well-being of girls.
– Empower community gatekeepers and the public to take action to prevent and respond to child marriage in their villages.
– Support the implementation and enforcement of laws and policies that protect girls from child marriage.

Child marriages in Zimbabwe are influenced by several factors, including poverty, gender norms, cultural and religious beliefs, lack of access to education, and limited comprehensive health services.