40% women married as children

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) say as the nation celebrated the day for an African Child 40% of women are being married while they are still children.

ZUJ official Chipo Majuta said as the nation marked the day of the African Child, this year's theme for the day is ending child marriage in Africa and it represents a timely call to end a practice that devastates the lives of millions of girls across the continent.

"40% women are married as children," wrote Chipo.

"These girls are married off before they physically or emotionally mature to become wives or mothers.Child marriage is an issue which affects girls in almost every country on the continent to a greater or lesser extent with the highest rates of child marriage in Africa."

She said chIld marriage robs girls of their education ,their health and their future.Over 60%of child brides in Africa have received no formal education whatsoever, and girls who gave birth under the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in child birth than women who have children in their early 20's.

"Without major progress on the issue the number of child brides will continue to hamper Africa's development," she wrote.

"Infact the persistence of child marriage has hindered Africa why it is so crucial that we take child marriage head on in the forthcoming Development Goals."