The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
CASES of Gender-based Violence (GBV) and child marriages continue to be rife in Makoni District and there is need for collaborative efforts by stakeholder to curb the scourges, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development has said.
Speaking during a media tour facilitated by Family Aids Caring Trust (FACT) Zimbabwe in the district, the district development officer in the Ministry, Mr Emmilio Chihono, said GBV and child marriages are a serious violation of human rights.
Child marriages remain rife in the district
He added that they have deployed watchdogs in identified hotspots with the assistance of law enforcement agents as a way of protecting vulnerable people in the local communities.
“Makoni District is still experiencing high incidences of gender-based violence and child marriages. This is a shared concern and concerted and collective efforts among stakeholders are required to nip these social challenges in the bud. Community involvement is key and one effective way of successfully tackling this problem, said Mr Chihono.
Mr Chihono said farming compounds and mining communities are among the hotspots where GBV and child marriages are rife and become more prevalent during the tobacco selling season.
