BULAWAYO, (Southern Eye Live) -Plan International Zimbabwe has renewed calls to end child marriage, saying the girl child’s future should not be decided by marriage.
In a statement marking continued advocacy for girls’ rights, the organisation said child marriage continues to rob girls of their potential and limit their life choices.
Plan International Zimbabwe said child marriage remains a major barrier to girls’ education and empowerment.
"Education gives girls the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence, pursue their ambitions and make informed choices about their futures. Yet child marriage continues to deny too many girls this opportunity."
The organisation said that while progress has been made through laws and awareness campaigns, many girls, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities, are still being pushed into early marriages due to poverty, cultural norms and limited access to education.
Plan International Zimbabwe stressed that ending child marriage requires collective effort from families and communities to schools, leaders, government and its development partners.
The organisation urged parents, traditional leaders, teachers, government ministries and civil society to work together to create safe learning environments and to challenge harmful practices that force girls out of school.
Plan International Zimbabwe emphasised that girls should be allowed to choose their own path.
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"Let girls learn. Let girls lead. Let girls shape the future they choose," the organisation added.
Child rights activists in Zimbabwe have long warned that child marriage exposes girls to health risks, gender-based violence and economic dependency, while also increasing school dropouts.
Although the government, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Ministry of Women Affairs, has introduced policies to ensure girls remain in school and shun early marriage, enforcement remains a challenge, particularly in the country's remote areas.
