KWEKWE – 230 girl dropouts were recorded in Kwekwe last year, with 82 girls already out of school this year. Chief among the reasons is marriage, or simply being impregnated.
The alarming statistics were presented by District Education Officer Irene Mapenzauswa at a belated Kwekwe District 2014 Prize Giving Day ceremony held at Shungu High school last week.
She even pointed out that the statistics were obviously a far cry from being realistic as the monitoring process had numerous loopholes, meaning more girls could have stopped school.
“The girl child seems targeted by anyone who feels that he has made money’’ mourned the educationist
“Maybe our children need the emphasis that children should complete their schooling and also that abusers should also face sterner measures.”
Recently in Gweru, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa discouraged the practice of marrying small girls, prevalent among members of the VaPostori sect.
The mentality however seems to have crept into intellectuals and prominent leaders.
Prosecutor General Johannes Tomana was quoted in the media as saying girls as young as 12 could consent to marriage.
Early this year, a prominent Kwekwe lawyer was dragged before the civil courts by a parent after reportedly impregnating a Kwekwe High school girl, thus ending her schooling at secondary level.
Gweru councillor Charles Simbi was also hauled before the courts for allegedly raping a teenager at gunpoint over months at a Lundi Park lodge. He was however acquitted of the charge by Regional Magistrate Morgan Nemadire.
Child President Samuel Nyirenda has said ‘early marriages were a cancer that society must deal with.’
United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Bishow Parajuli also added his voice last week, urging all stake holders to quickly act to the issue of child marriages.
Photo credit: www.source.co.zw
