Plan acts as ‘child marriages’ re-emerge

Plan's work is protecting school girls from child abuse

20 February 2008: The re-emergence of highly organised abusive child marriages between girls and elderly men within the conservative ‘spiritual’ and apostolic churches has prompted Plan Zimbabwe to organise a series of advocacy workshops targeting church leaders.

Rallying under the theme ‘Advocating for child development within the Apostolic and Zionist churches’, the workshops are aimed at stimulating religious attitudes that value child rights within the church doctrines.

The inaugural workshop, held in Masvingo province, was attended by 26 church leaders representing all districts in the province.

“Spiritual calling”

Marriages between girls and elderly men are widely attributed to poverty, “spiritual calling” and fear of girls losing virginity before marriage, thus bringing shame to the family.

According to Bishop Xavier Chitanda, the president of the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches in Zimbabwe-Africa (UDACIZA), “spiritual calling is when a man is shown a vision instructing him to marry a particular girl”.

The ‘vision’ is interpreted by  the church council, normally composed of elderly men, which then endorses the marriage.

Child abuse

Several women attending the workshop said they had been married through the ‘vision’ method and did not see any anomaly with the practice. However it dawned on them during the workshop that the process was in essence, child abuse.

“From today onwards I will join child protection advocacy committees in my community of Zaka and raise awareness of practices affecting children from my church and community,” said Alice Mararire from Zaka district.

“I wouldn’t want my children or those from my community to experience the pain and anguish I endured when I gave birth to my first child, at the age of 12,” she added.

Community support

Mrs Mararire applauded Plan Zimbabwe and facilitators from the government ministries of health, education and social welfare for enlightening the apostolic church leaders on practices that impede children from fulfilling their potential.

Plan Zimbabwe continues to engage and partner with other stakeholders in challenging unjust structures, beliefs and practices that violate child rights.

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