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Showbiz Reporter
Plan International brand ambassadors, Martin Sibanda and Ndolwane Super Sounds have embarked on a campaign to denounce child marriages in Tsholotsho. The campaign which started yesterday at Shaba Ward 6 and ends on Thursday, will see the group educating villagers in the district against child marriages through their music which tackles the matter.

Thandazani Nyoni, manager of the group, said Plan had chosen to work with them after watching them perform last year. “Plan was impressed by our performance last year, especially the response that we got from communities through the messages in our lyrics,” Nyoni said. He said Ndolwane would use the Tsholotsho shows to preach about social responsibility as music was the best tool to tackle such issues.

“Music is well accepted by people of all ages in Tsholotsho. We’ll tackle sensitive issues which affect our everyday lives especially those to do with child marriages.” Some of the group’s songs are Ngigcineleni Umuzi Wami from their debut album which was released in 1997, Ubudzabgwe, Bakhuzeni and Donsa. Today the group will be at Bubude Ward 17 from 10AM and tomorrow they will be at Mpanedziba Ward 19 at 10AM. They will round up their activities at Jimila Ward 6 on Thursday.

Nyoni said Tsholotsho children were among the most vulnerable children because most parents were spending the greater part of their time in South Africa where they work.

“Ngigcineleni Umuzi Wami is a song about a young man who travels to South Africa in search of greener pastures. He leaves his wife and children under the custody of his parents. “Most men from Tsholotsho are trying to make ends meet by working outside the country. Most of these men on their return lure young girls into sex and early marriage. This is what we’ll be preaching against in Tsholotsho during our shows,” said Nyoni.

He said while they supported the idea of those based in South Africa marrying locally, they were against them marrying young girls who they, in most cases, leave behind with their parents, thereby increasing the divorce rate.

“Some men work hard in South Africa and when they come back home, they don’t have enough time to find suitable women to marry. They just pick young girls and either leave them behind or under their parents’ custody. This in turn causes a high divorce rate which is something that we don’t support,” he said.