Gender Commission probes child marriages

LETTICIA MAGOMBO

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) will conduct investigations into apparent sexual exploitation, abuse of young girls and child marriages across the country.

The  ZGC chairperson, Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe said  investigations will resume  on May 8, 2022 and will run up to June 10, 2022 in all the provinces.

“Child marriage is a violation of human rights and the ZGC, is concerned with the surge in the practice as well as the exploitation of young women and girls,” Mukahanana-Sangarwe said.

According to The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, 33% of girls under the age of 18 are married.

Mukahanana-Sangarwe said getting married as a young immature bride exposes the young female to extreme poverty, curtails her career progression and exposes her to various sexual diseases as well as sexual and gender based violence.

“Protection of girls from any malpractices and social ills that may be sanitised through religious, traditional customs, belief systems and cultural norms is non-negotiable,” she said.

At present there is a minimal legal framework to guard against issues such as child marriages and sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls.

But, the commission is optimistic about the progression of the Marriage Laws Amendment Bill which prohibits the marriage of minors  and the pledging of girls and women in marriage.

The ZGC however, bemoaned the fact that the Bill does not explicitly criminalise the act therefore affecting its ability to act as a deterrent, and is disappointed that the age of sexual consent has still not been adjusted to that of the marriage age within the bill.

In an effort to curb the child marriage and exploitation the ZGC  is conducting an inquiry in to the matter which will include public and closed hearing thus, welcoming submissions from members of the public on the extent of the problem.

There have been a surge in child marriages especially among the Mapostori sect.

Last year, a 15-year old girl Anna Machaya died while giving birth and was buried at a shrine in Marange.

This jolted  the Commission into action, publishing a Government Gazette notice on September 24, signalling its  intention to launch a nationwide investigation and public inquiry on sexual exploitation and abuse of young girls (including those with disabilities).

Various state and non-state actors will also be called on to answer questions as well as provide evidence that may assist the inquiry in any way.

“These will be followed by provincial hearings starting with 5 spotlight provinces namely Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South from 8 May to 10 June 2022. We therefore call on survivors and witnesses to make submissions during the public hearings,” Mukahanana-Sangarwe said.

She said the outcome of the public inquiry will be a report directed to Parliament and other duty bearers for implementation in terms of Section 7 of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission Act (Chapter 10:31).

The report will also proffer recommendations on both policy, legal interventions and other practical measures to curb child marriages. The report will guide on policy formulation, reviews and reforms to laws practices with the view to address the problem, Mukahanana-Sangarwe said.