Komba, a Shangani cultural rite set for girls who have reached adolescence, is among the commonly observed ceremonies for girls in preparation for marriage, in the remote areas of Chiredzi.
For three months, girls spend the time living in the bush as part of the cultural practice to initiate them into womanhood.
Kept sacred by the Shangani ethnic group which is also known as the Tsonga, the Komba practice is meant to teach young girls how to be sexually active and to prepare them for marriage. This has remained a well kept tribal secret for many generations.
The Shangani ethnic group is highly secretive and girls allege that releasing information about what transpires is regarded as a defiance by the cultural Komba practice.
There is a belief that the practice evokes sexual desire in girls, which triggers early childhood marriages.
During the initiation, children are initiated into knowledge about sex positions and moves which are believed to have psychological effects on the girl child.
While going through Komba, the girl’s desire for sex is triggered, resulting in strong a desire among girls to experiment in sexual activity.
Patience Hlongwani, a resident who went through the Komba ceremony said most parents were no longer allowing their girl child to go through the ceremony due to the increase in early child marriages.
“During our days we were too innocent and never thought of sleeping with men afterwards,” she said. “This is now a different era due to the advent of the digital era and the young generation being now too experimental.”
She also said those leading Komba should consider age as a precondition for taking part in the rite.
“The ceremony is good because it upholds our culture,” she said. “But to make it safe for children it should be applicable to those over the age of eighteen years.”
Dziripi Hobwani, a village head of Farai said “as soon as the child finishes the Komba rite, she will get married at a young age. This has resulted in an increase in child marriages.”
Hobwani added that there should be strict enforcement of the age limit for initiation by local and traditional leaders in order to prevent child marriages and violation of the rights of the girl child.
He also said that traditional leaders should be trained on how to handle issues of child marriages , and this should be aligned to the constitution.
