Zimbabwe is one of the countries with a high rate of early child marriages. About 34% of women aged 20 to 24 years in Zimbabwe get married before 18 years. As such, early child marriages in Zimbabwe has become an essential issue in several development platforms. Therefore, to date, many know of its existence and are battling to end it, especially since it is an enemy to success. Early marriages steal one childhood and hinder their chances of becoming successful.
Leading authorities in the country have come out to address the issue of early child marriage by holding several campaigns. Since early marriages have become a topic of discussion, many have followed suit in fighting it. Natsiraishe Maritsa, aged 17, is among the people advocating ways to end teen marriages.
What Does Natsiraishe Have to Say?
The young teenage girl is one of the bravest girls in the country. She tries to encourage her fellow agemates by talking to them and teaching them the exceptional martial arts skill. Maritsa says that not many people in her village do taekwondo. Therefore, the girls she trains find it fascinating and impressive. Maritsa loved martial arts right from childhood, and because of that, she is now training young girls in her community taekwondo as a defense mechanism against child marriages. This is quite helpful for those who get into forced marriages.
Nonetheless, most reports indicate that these marriages are because of high levels of poverty in the country. In fact, for low-income families, marrying off their daughters means reducing the family burden. And on top, they get the bride price, which they use to sustain their survival.
Some girls also get married at an early age to older men for spiritual guidance. Simultaneously, some families force their daughters who engaged in premarital sex to marry their boyfriends to prevent shame in the family.
Natsiraishe narrates that the outcome during Taekwondo lessons is quite encouraging. Children as young as four, including some of her former schoolmates, line up outside her parent’s compound, ready for the classes. The group excitedly follows her lead as she instructs them to stretch, kick, strike, punch and spar. After the training, she educates her agemates on the hazards of child marriages.
Dangers of Early Child Marriages
As Maritsa talks to her fellows on child marriages, they open up and express the challenges they have been facing in their marriages. From their stories, most young mothers are victims of marital rape, insults, physical abuse, hunger, and health complications. Therefore, it is evident they face consistent mistreatments. As a young peer, Maritsa advises her agemates that they are too young to be married. Marriage is an agreement ordained for those mature enough to handle it.
One of the challenges teen mothers face is rejection. Why? In most cases, during campaigns, no one listens to the cries of these mothers. Their voices to discourage young girls from early marriages all go in vain.
These marriages are still escalating despite the Zimbabwean government enacting new legislation on marriage. I.e., the government allows only those of 18 years and above to marry. Approximately 30% of the girls in the country marry before they even turn 18.
There is hope that child marriages will decline in the country in the future. Although the government banned public gatherings since the outbreak of COVID-19, Maritsa is happy that the young mothers feel empowered.
MORE:
