Masvingo Unites Against Child Abuse and Teenage ...

Masvingo Unites Against Child Abuse and Teenage Pregnancy

Oscar J Jeke – Zim Now Reporter

Masvingo Province today hosted the second provincial phase of the National Campaign to End Child Abuse, Rape, and Teenage Pregnancies, issuing a powerful call “to ignite coordinated action across all sectors of society to protect the rights, dignity, and future of Zimbabwe’s children and adolescents.”

Spearheaded by the Parliament of Zimbabwe in partnership with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, the campaign drew hundreds to a vibrant solidarity march from Rujeko Secondary School to Masvingo Polytechnic College. Participants included Members of Parliament, schoolchildren, youth groups, traditional leaders, religious and civic organisations, law enforcement officers, prison inmates, and development partners.

“This morning, Masvingo Province rose to the call of national duty as it hosted the second provincial phase of the National Campaign to End Child Abuse, Rape, and Teenage Pregnancies,” said Parliament in a statement.

The campaign emphasised the importance of promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and called for collective national action. “It called on every institution, household, and individual to become part of a united effort to eliminate the scourges that threaten the well-being of the next generation.”

Child marriage and teenage pregnancy remain persistent challenges in Masvingo Province, with “community-level reports highlighting widespread cases that continue to disrupt education, endanger the health of young girls, and deepen cycles of poverty.”

The event at Masvingo Polytechnic was rich in symbolism and community spirit. Attendees were welcomed with spiritual devotions, followed by performances by the Prison Inmates Choir and student-led poetry, music, and drama—all centered around the campaign’s message: Combating Child Abuse, Rape, Child Marriage, and Promoting SRHR Services.

Parliament added, “The campaign delivers a clear and unified message: ‘Zimbabwe will not tolerate the erosion of childhood through abuse, forced marriage, rape, or child exploitation.’”

This initiative is part of the broader Swedish-funded SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project (2023–2026), implemented through the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum and the Parliament of Zimbabwe. It also supports the domestication of critical regional model laws.

According to Parliament, the campaign “advances the domestication of essential SADC Model Laws, including those on Eradicating Child Marriage (2016), Gender-Based Violence (2021), and Public Financial Management (2022), as Parliament pushes to align national legislation with regional best practices.”