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Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has expressed concern at the high prevalence of child marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls in the country which it said needs urgent address.

In an effort to help the country take corrective measures, the Commission is carrying out a national inquiry on child marriages and sexual exploitation or abuse of young girls including those with disabilities.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Binga recently, ZGC chairperson Mrs Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said the diabolical situation has challenged the Commission to take steps and amplify its voice on the issue so that it becomes a national discourse.

She said the Commission was conducting a national inquiry to red flag the social injustices while also accelerating responsive mechanisms aimed at redressing the social dysfunctions.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission is working with the United Nations Development Programme, Ministry of Women Affairs, traditional leaders, civil society organisations and other partners.

“This important process has been organised by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as well as the UN Women under the spotlight.

“Initiative to provide a platform for engagement to collectively discuss, reflect and share information on this issue of child marriages which is of mutual concern to all of us.

Regrettably, this national inquiry is coming against a background of high prevalence of child marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls in the country, particularly within the apostolic sect which is a cause for concern for the Commission,” said Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe.

She said the Inquiry allows the Commission to gather evidence, information and testimonies from the survivors, key-informant witnesses and stakeholders as it tries to get deeper insights and understand the underlying issues around the practice.

Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe said addressing child marriages, sexual exploitation and abuse is central to the work of the Commission as it is one of the systemic barriers prejudicial to the achievement of gender equality in Zimbabwe.

She said child marriages, sexual exploitation or abuse impedes the girls’ full enjoyment of rights.

Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe said everyone has a role to play in ending child marriage and sexual exploitation of young women and girls including those with disabilities.

“If we work together, we can end this practice and create a brighter future for girls, our communities and the nation at large.

This national inquiry we are gathered here to participate and contribute to is indeed a milestone step towards pooling efforts that will immensely contribute to the eradication of child marriages and sexual exploitation of young girls.

The inquiry is being held in the spirit of the Commission’s constitutional mandate,” said Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe.

Some sections of the society, especially among members of Apostolic sects, have been blamed for fuelling child marriages through marrying off young girls.

In 2021 the death of a young girl Anna Machaya while giving birth shook the nation resulting in the ZGC conducting an investigation on child marriages in the Johanne Marange Apostolic Sect.

The commission found out that the practice was rampant.

“Abuse of young girls and child marriages are rampant not only in the Apostolic Sects but was pervasive across the nation, said Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe.

This triggered the Commission to launch a nationwide investigation and public inquiry on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Young Girls and Child Marriages in Apostolic Sect.

“The Anna Machaya case is only a representation of many other cases going unreported.

The Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) confirms that levels of child marriage remain unacceptably high in Zimbabwe.

According to 2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICs), 32,6 percent of girls were married before the age of 18 in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Prevalence in Matabeleland North stands at 32,9 percent.

Zimstat data also indicate that rural girls are twice more likely to be married off before the age of 18 compared to their urban counterparts.

Poverty and the Covid-19 pandemic worsened the situation as more girls dropped out of school to get married.

Binga is one of the districts with high rates of child marriages.

The ZGC seeks to gather statements from the complainants and witnesses, understand the practice, customs, laws and other drivers of sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls and child marriages within the Apostolic Sects and different cultures.

Data will be compiled to identify the harmful effects of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Young Girls.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission was established to facilitate the promotion of gender equality and equity as well as ensuring that the gender equality provisions of the Constitution are adhered to.

Mrs Mukahanana-Sangarwe said citizens have a collective responsibility to ensure that children enjoy their fundamental rights that include right to human dignity, personal security, protection from maltreatment and abuse, access to health and education as well as right to their bodily and psychological integrity as buttressed in the national constitution and other international instruments and standards.

She said the Commission remains committed to working with communities to ensure total eradication of child marriages. – @ncubeleon