The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter—
THE subject of early marriages dominated national debate this week amid disclosure that at least 4 500 minors dropped out of school to get married.
| The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Lazarus Dokora, revealed that of the 4 500 pupils, 3 650 females and 251 males dropped out of secondary schools and 305 girls and 13 males at primary level. |
On average, 4 500 children constitute six schools and losing such voluminous number of girls to early marriages translate into six schools, of say 700 pupils, closing down for lack of students.
These girls are suffering as their childhood is cut prematurely and fundamental right to education, optimal health, bonding with peers, maturing and ultimately scouting own life partners are gravely compromised.
Child marriage refers to marriage of a child below the 18 years of age. It is a violation of the girl’s rights and a product of moral bankruptcy.
Dr Dokora’s scary revelation puts to the fore the need for aggressive campaigns and radical measures to eradicate this erotic transgression.
A survey by The Manica Post at schools in Mutare, Nyanga, Buhera and Mutasa Districts showed that entrenched religious, cultural practices, teenage sex and poverty are pushing girls onto the margins and into harmful early marriages.
At St Theresa of Avilla Mission many young girls are being lured into marriages every year. At primary level, girls attend school in roughly equal numbers to boys, but statistics shrink abruptly at high school.
The Avilla area of Nyanga borders Mozambique, and is deeply embedded in the Hwesa culture that celebrates a narrative in which parents can trade off their girl children to well-to-do and reputable households in return for food during times of acute drought.
Just as gold is a reliable tool or means to hedge against inflation, girls are tossed as a tool or hedge against starvation by drought or poverty stricken families.
Girls entering into such early marriages are revered by their families as not only saviour to them but also a treasured acquisition by the in-laws.
St Theresa of Avilla Mission has roped in police and initiated programmes to educate communities, raise awareness and engage traditional, religious leaders and parents to empower girls with education.
“Our main focus is about the girl child coming to school than them paying for their education. It doesn’t mean they should not pay — but we rather have them at whatever cost because this community is culturally backward in that it prioritises marrying off the girl child than having her educated. So the only safe place for the girl is in the classroom than at home or in community.
“Resources permitting, we should upgrade Avilla Mission to a girl’s boarding school so that we can keep the girls here for nine months a year — because these girls are exposed to danger daily as they walk to and fro school,” said the head Mrs Rejoice Savuya.
She said they have since established a police base at the school that is carrying out regular campaigns targeting transformation of the mindset.
“We cannot ignore this kind of abuse. We want the community to move away from a culture that sees early child marriages as an exit from poverty. Our message is very clear — investing in a girl’s education is investing in a nation. There are low inter-student marriages, which means the girl is falling prey ‘kumadhara iwaya nemakorokoza,’” said Mrs Savuyi.
St Theresa of Avilla Mission head girl Rumbidzai Samukandi warned fellow girls that all that glitters was not gold.
“Fellow girls, it doesn’t pay to be lured into a marriage before reaching maturity. You will forever trap yourself into poverty. Let us rise above this temptation and vigorously pursue our education. Education is the best form of empowerment we should cry for. Society should leave us to mature, while at school. It should shun child marriages.
“The most important thing for the girl child is to be educated and be somebody in life tomorrow. Life without education is unbearable, more-so if you are a young mother with a child to look after. You become a victim of poverty and will lack everything in life,” said Rumbidzai.
Gatsi High School in Mutasa is also facing a similar challenge. The school head Mr Lewis Ntuli said seven girls got married.
“Some are being married off for cultural and religious practices. The girl child needs protection. The poverty levels in this area are worrisome such that the girls get easily lured into these relationships believing it is a bed of roses,” said Mr Ntuli.
At St James Zongoro, also in Mutasa, the dropout rate for young girls is swirling up. In 2011, six girls dropped out of school and the number doubled to 13 in 2012, 15 girls dropped out in 2013, 12 and 15 were lost in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The head Mr Samuel Kichini said young girls were being married off at a tender age to escape poverty while others are forced by their families on religious and cultural reasons.
“It is painful. It’s a serious issue that the school and the community should tackle through regular campaigns for a paradigm shift. You cannot ignore this evil, and the sooner community move away from a culture that sees the girl more as source of income than a family member the better,” said Mr Kichini.
“In some cases our girls are enticed with money by illegal miners and the end result is painful. Two wrongs do not make a right, yet we have several cases where girls fall pregnant, and instead of being given a second chance, are chased and forced into eloping to some old men,” said Mr Kichini.
The evil is also persisting at Karirwi High in Mutare and at Murambinda B Secondary in Buhera, which are dominated by polygamous apostolic church followers who marry in June and July every year.
“Once they get to Form One or Two, they are married off during their pass-over conventions in June and July.
“The key drivers are high number of child-headed families where freedom is unrestrained and also the influence of the Murambinda Growth Point, which is also a hot-spot of HIV and Aids in Manicaland. The girls end up co-habiting with illegal miners and truck drivers,” said Mrs Annah Hara.
The school lost 16 girls, 15 in 2015 and six by October 2016.
Mrs Hara said the school has embraced the Girls Education Movement (GEM) to counsel girls on the importance of education and use of successful alumni as role models.
