ARTUZ urges quick action on childhood marriages

I Have Never Applied For A Job In Police Force So Why Do They Want To Interview Me? Asks Robson Chere – ZimEye — Robson Chere

Philemon Jambaya

Almagamated Rural Teachers Union has urged quick intervention from government to curb the cancerous practice.

In an interview with the media on Friday on the sidelines of a labour forum held in Goromonzi, Artuz secretary general, Robson Chere, said teachers are mandated to create a safe environment for learners and the government must complement them to ensure the children's rights are not infringed.

"Child marriages are a cancer in society and the situation is worse in mining towns where artisanal miners lure the children with gifts.

"As teachers, our mandate is to create a safe environment for children and to make sure their rights are not infringed. The employer should assist us in enforcing these rights.

"Some children drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to pay school fees for them and recently BEAM has been failing to pay school fees to more than 1,5million children the end product of this situations for the girl is marriage," he said.

Chere said the government introduced the E-Learning exercise but has not implemented measures to cushion the majority of parents in rural areas.

"School children in rural areas have no access to smart phones and data, hence this derails their education and they end up getting married at a young age, " said Chere.

A parent From Goromonzi, Irene Muzondo, concurred with Chere and urged government and the judiciary to stipulate deterrent sentences to culprits.

"The government should enforce hefty penalties for those who marry under-aged girls, they are destroying their future and dreams. As parents, we are trying to engage with teachers in schools since teachers spend much of the school term time with our children as well," said Muzondo.

According to ZimStats, 133 455 women aged between 20 and 24 represents 16.2 % of the young women who were married off before the age of 18 without reaching Ordinary Level.