31% of young girls in forced marriages

A RECENT survey by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that 31% of Zimbabwean girls under the age of 18 were in forced marriages with 15% of them getting married at the age of 15.

The chilling statistics were released in Harare yesterday in a joint communiqué issued by the Ministry of Women's Affairs, Zimbabwe National Chiefs' Council and Plan International.

Part of the communiqué reads: "We note with concern that 31% (UNFPA, 2012 report) of girls are married before the age of 18 years in Zimbabwe and further note that in 2009, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) recorded that 16,3% of the Zimbabwean population is married by the age of 15 years."

According to the survey, the majority of the girls were pushed into early marriages by poverty, cultural norms and other social, economic and religious practices.

Addressing guests at the meeting, Chiefs Council president Fortune Charumbira urged traditional leaders as custodians of cultural heritage and values to play a leading role in educating their communities to desist from the practice.

Stakeholders noted that child marriages robbed the victims of their basic rights like health, freedom of choice and education.