The Sunday Mail
The commemoration of the Day of the African Child brings sad memories to many Africans as we recall the massacre of black children in Soweto, South Africa, on June 16, 1976.
The children who died in pursuit of their right to education and the brutal shooting in response to their demonstration remains a dark mark which till today brings Africa together.
In their honour, Africa has stood up to ensure that it addresses the issues that affect children as they are an important asset to the continent.
Agenda ‘2063’ has set the tone for the holistic approach in addressing economic empowerment issues in Africa. The agenda provides for the full involvement and engagement of women and youth, to “rekindle the spirit of working together toward collective prosperity, common destiny under a united and strong Africa.”
The African Union Chairperson, President Mugabe reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to the protection of children at the AU Summit in South Africa when he said, “We have resolved and committed ourselves to abolish all ills, based on cultural and religious practices, including early child marriages, and gender based violence.”
As we commemorate the Day of the African Child this year under the theme “25 Years after the Adoption of the African Children’s Charter: Accelerating our Collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa”, it is important that as Africa we also remember that the legacy of responsibility that was fought by the children of Soweto, should not suffer in our hands.
According to UNICEF, worldwide, more than 700 million women alive today were married as children, and more than 1 in 3 were married before the age of 15. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world, with 40 per cent of girls married by the time they reach the age of 18. Countries like Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Niger and Chad have also been reported to have the highest prevalence of child marriages.
The International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) states that while countries with the highest prevalence of child marriages are concentrated in Western and Sub Saharan Africa, due to population size, the largest number of child brides reside in South Asia.
The organisation notes that poverty and lack of education are causes of early marriages.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the State of the World’s Children’s Report (2015), the prevalence of child marriage indicates that Mashonaland Central leads with 50 percent.
In second place is Mashonaland West 42 percent, Masvingo 39 percent, Mashonaland East 36 percent, Midlands 31 percent, Manicaland 30 percent, Matabeleland North 27 percent, Harare 19 percent, and Matabeleland South 18 percent while Bulawayo has the least prevalence with about 10 percent.
A study conducted by the Zimbabwe Youth Council in 2014 on Harmful Social and Cultural Practices that affect children in Zimbabwe revealed that early marriages is the most harmful practice in rural Zimbabwe with seven areas namely Chikombedzi, Neshuro, Ngundu, Hwange, Lukosi, Uzumba and Mudzi being the areas of focus.
The study notes that early marriages also lead to increased vulnerability especially in cases where young girls are burdened with the responsibility of looking after the family and the increase of child-headed families is also rampant.
Furthermore, most early marriages could be classified as rape while most parties often opt for negotiated settlements and in some cases parents do accept the bride wealth.
The Government of Zimbabwe is a state party to a number of international and regional instruments that protect the rights of children which include:
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Children’s Act (Chapter 5:06), the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) and the Domestic Violence Act (Chapter 5:16) deals with the rights and welfare of children in Zimbabwe.
Section 81 of the Constitution provides for the protection of fundamental rights of children.
Stakeholders are also playing a pivotal role towards ending child marriages in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Chiefs’ Council has accepted to play a pivotal role in protecting the rights of the girl child by preventing child marriages.
This initiative is a milestone as child marriage statistics are prevalent in Chiefs jurisdictions.
The Government of Zimbabwe is also playing a pivotal role in addressing the root causes of child marriages which include poverty and lack of education.
Through the enhancement of Skills Development programmes, the Government is ensuring that young people have access to hands on skills such that they can seek employment or establish their own enterprises.
The Integrated Skills Outreach Programme and the institutionalised training at Vocational Training Centres provides young people with options to enhance their skills and improve their employability.
They get a second chance in life such that they can pursue their dreams and avoid falling into traps or marriages which they live to regret. There is also the Second Chance Programme through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that allows young women to be readmitted into the formal school system after dropping out of school due to various circumstances like teenage pregnancies.
The Zimbabwe Youth Council through the Children’s Parliament is also conducting advocacy programmes to ensure that Child Parliamentarians speak on behalf of all the children in Zimbabwe as they represent their respective constituencies. More work is also being done by development partners to address the issue.
Collaborative efforts are of vital importance to safeguard the vulnerable children who end up exploited or are forced to marry at a tender age.
The need for prompt and effective information sharing and support for the safety and well being of our children should remain a top priority.
It is with great hope that the recently established U-report platform will also give the children a voice as they can send a free sms on issues that affect their development.
As we commemorate the Day of The African Child, let us remember the complications that our children go through if they are forced into marriage. Child brides often suffer from stress, sexual abuse, exploitation, depression and they often feel hopeless. Let us stand up for them and protect those at risk.
◆ Sikhanyisiwe Ncube is the Editor and Yollanda Washaya is the Deputy Editor of the Youth Magazine – Youth.Zim .They write in their individual capacities.
