TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
At least 5 000 school girls fell pregnant during the Covid-19 pandemic period in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) has said, amid calls for stern measures to fight the scourge.
ZYC chairperson, Chiedza Juru, who spoke at the Zimbabwe Business4Children meeting in Bulawayo last week said measures should be taken to help in the fight against child marriages and protect the girl child.
“We have received an alarming increase in early marriages particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic period. Over 5 000 girls fell pregnant during this period with the majority failing to go back to school,” Juru said.
She said the business community should play a big role in the fight against child marriages.
“Business leaders have the capacity to influence how children and young people are able to respond to these challenges. You have access to communities that you operate in terms of your businesses,” Juru said.
According to a UNICEF concept paper, the business sector plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of a country and is also a key partner towards ensuring fulfillment of the rights of children.
Juru said businesses can help fight against the different challenges communities face.
“You have got access to advertising platforms you can use to fight against these challenges. We have celebrities, musicians and other artistes. We think they have so much power to influence the behaviour of people and young people,” she said.
