MZINGWANE District has embarked on a campaign to end child marriages in different villages surrounding the area.
The campaign is being held under the theme, “End Violence against women and girls now-No to child marriages!”
Speaking at the event to launch the campaign on Tuesday, acting-District Development coordinator Siphathisiwe Mlotshwa appealed to parents to end the scourge.
“Due to poverty, parents are encouraging their young daughters to get married to older men. Parents need to be educated about the importance of allowing their girls to continue with their education,” said Mlotshwa.
“Most of them are afraid to speak against child marriages. We urge parents to desist from this behaviour.
“Child marriages are a harmful practice that infringes on the rights of the child and further deprives the child of opportunities of attaining aspirations like education, a decent and healthy life.”
Speaking on the side-lines of the campaign, child rights activist and former child governor Bonlat Machiha said empowering young women and adolescent girls to claim their rights, and creating an environment where they can live free from child marriages, is critical.
“Due to their popularity, especially in rural areas, early child marriages are seldom seen as a human rights violation.
“Nonetheless, child marriages violate Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other numerous human rights treaties,” said Machiha.
“The consequences of child marriages are horrendous. While their schooling and childhood are slashed short, the child brides often undergo a distressing instigation into sexual relationships.
“They are put at the risk of domestic violence and STIs and usually their bright future is doomed.”
A learner from Silobi Secondary School, Nosizo Moyo, said guardians should desist from pushing children into forced early child marriages because it destroys their future.
“We may be young, but we have the potential to do better in our lives and become exemplary citizens.
“We want to lead and bring development to societies, but we cannot do that if we can’t imagine a safe world,” said Nosizo.
by Hazel Marimbiza
in BULAWAYO
