More than twenty chiefs, from seven districts in Mashonaland West Province vowed to fight child marriages in their communities, giving young girls a lifeline to reach their full potential. The Chiefs made the pledge in Chinhoyi during a two-day Chiefs Anti–Child Marriages Indaba held from 3 – 4 April 2023. Funded by the Swedish Embassy, and implemented by the Population Solutions for Health, PSI and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development, the meeting was conducted under the campaign theme; “Give Me a Chance, I am a Child, not a Wife.”
Over the two days, the open dialogues with key stakeholders took the lid off child marriages and provided the framework for Chiefs to co-create community charters against child marriages. The community charters placed the girl child at the centre in demanding an opportunity to fulfil their dreams and achieve a better future without the negative effects of early marriage.
All girls deserve protection, respect for their rights and freedom, and a chance at a life that they choose. If you force a child under 18 into marriage, you have committed an atrocious crime. It is now upon all of us to fulfil the pledge we made here today.”- said Hon. Chief Ngezi in his address.
Present at the high-level dialogue were Chiefs, headman, religious leaders, representatives from the Minister of State, Victim Friendly Unit (VFU), Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Department of Social Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Give A Chance ambassador; Mambo Dhuterere and Child Marriage Survivors.
The ‘Give Me A Chance’ campaign is being implemented by Population Solutions for Health through Population Services International and funded by the Swedish Embassy.