By Fanuel Chinowaita
Headlands – The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has urged stakeholders to intensify the fight against child marriages, teenage pregnancies and drug abuse, warning that lack of resources is hindering swift and effective response to child abuse cases.
This came out at a public education campaign held last Friday at Mt Carmel High School in Headlands, where government officials, development partners, parents, students and community leaders gathered to deliberate on protecting children’s rights.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the ZGC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Confidence Mungayi, the Commission’s Manicaland Regional Coordinator, said the 2022 National Inquiry into Child Marriages revealed alarming findings that continue to guide the Commission’s work.
“Lack of adequate resources is affecting swift and effective response to child abuse and related vices,” Mungayi said, adding that underreporting of cases and weak witness protection systems further undermine efforts to combat sexual exploitation and early marriages.
The inquiry, triggered by the tragic death of 15-year-old Anna Machaya of Manicaland who died in childbirth after being forced into marriage, identified poverty, harmful cultural practices, peer and parental pressure, and drug and substance abuse as key drivers of child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
The campaign also featured a Form One learner from Mt Carmel High School, who addressed delegates, underscoring the importance of giving young people a voice in the fight against early marriages and drug abuse.
“As young people we must stay focused on education and resist pressure that pushes us into drugs or early marriages,” the learner said, drawing applause from the audience.
Parents at the event also welcomed the awareness drive.
“These programmes are important because sometimes children do not listen to us as parents, but when such information comes from authorities and peers, they take it seriously,” said Mrs. Chigova, a parent from Headlands.
Stakeholders including Plan International, Zoe Empowers, and CAMFED pledged continued collaboration with ZGC to promote girls’ education, strengthen gender-based violence referral systems, and encourage positive parenting.
