Thumbs up to ConCourt ruling

The Zimbabwe Prison Oriented Orphans Care (ZIMPOC) applauds the Constitutional Court's landmark ruling to end child marriages.

The criminalization of Under 18 marriages is a giant step in making sure that rights children in general are protected.

The ruling also comes in as a ray hope in the fight to end sexual abuse and child marriages of the vulnerable children particularly those orphaned as a result of death or incarceration of legal guardians.

We say it is a ray of hope because the ruling outlaws child marriages but is not in tandem with the age of consent enshrined in the constitution.

What it entails is that older people will continue to abuse juveniles by having sex with them albeit without marrying them as long as they are of the age of consent.

ZIMPOC therefore urges the government and responsible authorities to swiftly align the constitution's age of consent with the ConCourt's landmark ruling on child marriages.

ZIMPOC Public Relations Department