The Sunday Mail
Desire Ncube
UNION for the Development of Apostolic Church in Zimbabwe (Udaciza) and Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (Accz) joined scores of people who marched in Harare last week as they celebrated last month’s Constitutional Court ruling on child marriages.
The Constitutional Court declared child marriages illegal and set 18 years as the minimum age of marriage.
The solidarity march was organized by the Ministry of Woman Affairs Gender and Community Development.
Udaciza and Accz are umbrella bodies that represent Apostolic and Zionist churches in Zimbabwe.
It is estimated that most cases of child marriages are recorded within Apostolic and Zionist churches.
Addressing a gathering of church leaders, parents, chiefs, school children, human rights groups and Government officials at Kaguvi building last Wednesday; the Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Nyasha Chikwinya said child marriage is a disheartening phenomenon that has been deprived children – both boys and girls – the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
She said child marriage is a violation of the fundamental children’s rights.
“It is very disturbing to note that Zimbabwe is among 20 countries in Africa with a high child marriage prevalence rate as reflected in the Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2011.
“Thirty one percent of girls in Zimbabwe marry before they reach the age of 18 and 15 percent of these girls are married before they turn 15,” Minister Chikwinya said.
She said her ministry views the ruling as a major milestone in the campaign to end child marriages.
Speaking to the media, Udaciza secretary general, Rev Edson Tsvakai said before the ruling their organization had already started a campaign aimed at ending early marriages.
“As a body we have a well documented Action Plan which clearly stipulates that it is illegal to marry children under the age of 18.”
He said now that child marriages have been declaled illegal, the organisation will work at complementing the work of law enforcement urgencies.
Accz President, Bishop Johannes Ndanga concurred with Rev Tsvakai and said people should not abuse the Bible to quench their evil lust of abusing innocent children.
He said the long arm of the law will soon catch up with those who dare stay in the past.
The Constitutional Court declared that Section 78(1) of the Constitution sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage and therefore any law that contradicts this is unconstitutional.
The operative part of the judgment reads:
“It is declared that Section 78(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe Amendment Number 20 of 2013 sets 18 years as the minimum age of marriage in Zimbabwe.
“It is further declared that Section 22(1) of the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:11) or any law, practice or custom authorising a person under 18 years of age to marry or to be married is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 78(1) of the Constitution and therefore invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
