Half of all child marriages recorded in Zimbabwe this year are from Mashonaland Central province.
This was revealed at the belated provincial commemorations of the International Day of the Girl Child held at Phunyuka Primary School in Lupane.
The vice of child marriages is still prevalent in Zimbabwe with Mashonaland Central being the most notorious, accounting for 50 percent of all reported cases in Zimbabwe this year.
Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Midlands and Manicaland also recorded high prevalence rates while the shining example was Bulawayo where the least cases were reported.
The statistics were revealed in the UNICEF State of the World Report of 2015.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Cde Thokozile Mathuthu says it is disturbing that the majority of these marriages are initiated by family members and influential leaders in the communities.
“We must also say no to gender-based violence. I want to underscore that issues of gender are a development issue. Violating of rights and dignity of the girl, the boy, the men or the women is an impediment to development,” said Cde Mathuthu.
Statistics also reveal that one in every nine girls in Zimbabwe entered into marriage before the age of 15.
The International Day of the Girl Child was set aside by the United Nations four years ago to be commemorated on the 11th October every year.
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The vice of child marriages is still prevalent in Zimbabwe with Mashonaland Central being the most notorious, accounting for 50 percent of all reported cases in Zimbabwe this year.
Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Midlands and Manicaland also recorded high prevalence rates while the shining example was Bulawayo where the least cases were reported.
The statistics were revealed in the UNICEF State of the World Report of 2015.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Cde Thokozile Mathuthu says it is disturbing that the majority of these marriages are initiated by family members and influential leaders in the communities.
“We must also say no to gender-based violence. I want to underscore that issues of gender are a development issue. Violating of rights and dignity of the girl, the boy, the men or the women is an impediment to development,” said Cde Mathuthu.
Statistics also reveal that one in every nine girls in Zimbabwe entered into marriage before the age of 15.
The International Day of the Girl Child was set aside by the United Nations four years ago to be commemorated on the 11th October every year.
