Over One Million Child Brides In Zimbabwe

By Caroline Gumbo
There are over one million child brides in Zimbabwe with one in three young women having been married during childhood, statistics revealed to Nhau/Indaba relate.

This was divulged in Harare recently at the launch of a Communication Campaign programme for adolescents being spearheaded by UNICEF Zimbabwe in collaboration with the government.

According to officials, the campaign running under the theme “Nothing for us, without us” is designed to give adolescents countrywide, an opportunity to participate on issues affecting them within their communities.

UNICEF Chief for HIV/AIDS and Adolescent Development, Jacquiline Kabambe told the media that the initiative was crafted to give adolescents an opportunity to express their experiences as they are facing a lot of challenges in the society.

Adolescents especially in marginalised areas are facing numerous challenges including poverty, adolescent pregnancies, child marriages, maternal deaths, physical and sexual violence, HIV infection, dropping out of school and limited engagement.

“It is worrisome that 22 percent of adolescent girls aged between 15 to 19 have begun childbearing.

“Zimbabwe is home to over 1 million child brides, with one in three young women having been married in childhood.

“47 percent of adolescents are out of school in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Kabambe expressed concern that adolescents between the age of 10-19 constituted a third of the country’s recorded maternal deaths while over 85 000 lived with HIV.

“One third of maternal deaths in the country are among adolescents aged 10 -19. Over 85 000 adolescents between this age group are living with HIV.”

She also stated that in Zimbabwe, 4.1 percent of girls aged between 13-17 were victims of sexual violence, which is a worrying trend.

Kabambe also revealed that teenage pregnancy was rampant and there is need for urgent action as it is affecting adolescent girls in so many ways.

“They are dropping out of school when they fall pregnant. Sometimes they are giving birth to premature babies because of their tender age while some of them are experiencing pregnancy complications.

“Apart from that, they are highly exposed to STIs and HIV,” she said.

UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe, Tajudeen Oyewale said working with children and giving them an ear concerning their needs and experiences was paramount.

“Our intention is to give the young boys and girls a platform to give out their voices so that the challenges they are facing can be solved. Working with children has taught us the value of listening, the value of appreciating and as adults we do not know everything

“This is an opportunity for them to participate in decision making processes,” Oyewale said.

The Campaign which began running from the beginning of October until December 2023 has also attracted stakeholders from the private sector . Nhau/Indaba