Zimbabwean News You Can Trust
Last Tuesday, 16 traditional chiefs in Mashonaland Central attended a Populations Solutions for Health (PSH) chief’s indaba awareness campaign, which focused on educating the community on how to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) and early child marriages.
The chief’s indaba followed the world’s 16 days of activism against GBV, which started on November 25, and will end today.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the program, Chief Negomo, who was the hosting delegate, said cases of child marriages are high in Mazowe, claiming gold miners manipulate young girls into s3xual activities because they are financially stable.
Chief Negomo told journalists that there are no clear cases of child marriages in his area, because these wrong doings usually happen in remote areas where statistics of perpetrators are difficult to discover.
He said, “Yes, cases of child marriages and GBV happen here in Mazowe, because this area has minerals like gold, so obviously men who work or have mines have money to manipulate these young girls and end up marrying them without our knowledge. Some areas where these things happen are remote areas where law enforcement agents can hardly reach.
“As for me personally, there isn’t a case where a young girl was married, but I know these are things that are possible, so awareness programs like this one today are contributions we acknowledge.”
Meanwhile, Executive Director of PSH Noah Taruberekera applauded Mash Central traditional chiefs for attending the indaba, urging them to jealously protect young girls against child marriages and GBV.
“To chiefs, your role in shaping traditional norms is crucial in eliminating GBV and child marriages. Your voices are listened to. During the 16 days of activism against GBV, we therefore urge you, as chiefs, to make solid commitments to prevent these practices,” he said.
According to the Sweden ambassador to Zimbabwe, Per Linggarde, 22 Zimbabwean women are raped daily, one woman abused every 75 minutes, and an average of 646 women are sexually abused each month.
The 16 chiefs that attended the program were from Bindura, Rushinga, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, and Zvimba. They were also representatives from Shamva and Mazowe who were part of the hosting province.
