Source: Minister in plea to eradicate child marriages – herald
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
WOMEN Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has issued a call for Manicaland to completely eradicate child marriages.
She said the province’s ranking as the third-highest in the country on child marriages was unacceptable and required immediate action.
Speaking at the Manicaland provincial launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at Manzununu Primary School in Mutare yesterday, the minister delivered a firm message directly to men, traditional leaders, parents and communities.
“We cannot continue pretending this is normal. Marrying children is a crime, and it must stop,” she said.
“I want to say this very clearly to all men; leave the children alone. They must be allowed to grow, to learn and to shape their future.”
The launch was held under the theme, “Unite! to end digital violence against all women and girls.”
Sen Mutsvangwa said the escalating cases of child marriages and gender-based violence in Manicaland demand urgent collective action.
“It is worrying that this province continues to record high cases of gender-based violence, including child marriages,” she said.
“When a girl is forced into marriage, her life, her health and her opportunities are stolen. No cultural justification and no poverty situation can ever make this acceptable.
“This region must not be known for child marriages; it must be known for empowering its daughters. Every girl deserves schools, skills and safety – not a forced marriage.”
Turning her attention to technology-driven abuse, Sen Mutsvangwa warned that the digital world has become a dangerous extension of traditional violence, particularly affecting young women.
She said the Government is committed to tackling all forms of abuse and reiterated Zimbabwe’s legal frameworks, including the Cyber and Data Protection Act and the National Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
Those efforts show Zimbabwe’s commitment to ending violence, both offline and online.
“But laws alone are not enough. Communities must act,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa explained that violence is no longer confined to homes, as perpetrators now use phones and computers to stalk, humiliate or trap their victims.
She described alarming trends such as deepfakes, revenge pornography, grooming of minors, and cyberstalking, which can lead to physical violence or even death.
“The attacks silence women’s voices, ruin reputations, and, in the worst cases, lead to physical violence or even death,” she noted.
Minister Mutsvangwa expressed concern that online attacks frequently target promising young women, including college students, businesswomen, journalists, politicians and influencers.
“These are the women who carry our nation forward, yet they are pushed offline or silenced. That is unacceptable.”
The minister commended ZIMSTAT for integrating technology-facilitated violence into its surveys, arguing that evidence-based data is essential for designing effective interventions.
She also stressed the strides made in service provision, noting that Manicaland now has four one-stop centres located in Makoni, Chipinge, Mutare and Chimanimani, along with three safe shelters for survivors.
“These centres are offering counselling, legal support, medical care, and temporary accommodation.
“But even with these services, the cases remain too high. This means we all have more work to do”.
Sen Mutsvangwa also urged families, schools, and communities to invest in digital safety skills.
“Everyone needs practical tools to stay safe online. People must know how to secure their accounts, how to recognise abuse, how to report it, and how to support victims.
“We must raise a generation that respects others both in person and online,” she said.
Furthermore, the minister called on social media platforms and service providers to enhance their systems by removing harmful content swiftly, improving reporting systems, and developing policies that put user safety first.
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