Imagine pregnancy burden on a nine-year old! . . . society must protect children

Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Features Editor

THERE’s nothing glamorous about pregnancy. The nausea and vomiting, heartburn and indigestion, swelling and fluid retention, skin changes, stretch marks, yeast infections, constipation, backache, headaches — the winding list is enough to overwhelm any woman who has come of age.

The anxiety, emotional turbulence, fear of the unknown and the endless “what ifs” require mental strength and emotional resilience like no other.

Going through the entire nine yards and carrying a baby full term takes a huge toll on the body. The pain one endures after a Caesarean section is unmatched. Even with sedatives, the pain can be debilitating. Add to that, the bleeding that happens after giving birth and its discomforts. It’s a lot to deal with, and to think a nine-year-old has already had to bear so much at such a tender age is beyond heart-breaking.

It’s depressing, mournful even, that a nine-year-old had to carry such a huge burden and not be fully aware of what’s going on with her. This, after enduring many nights of sexual violation that her young body should never have experienced.

Her innocence was taken away from her; her body overwhelmed and battered by a pregnancy she didn’t choose to have.

The nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl who was being managed at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and recently gave birth to a baby girl via a Caesarean section should give more impetus for concerted efforts to stop child sexual abuse.

It emerged that the father of the child allegedly told her that “goblins would visit her at night and insert something in her private parts.”

The father (29) was arrested on 29 August when it was discovered that the minor was pregnant and is assisting police with investigations.

The goblins that the father forewarned his daughter about, are alleged to have visited the nine-year-old only on nights that her mother was away from home and was left in the care of her father. 

It is said on some occasions, the girl would get to school and hide behind the toilets. She would be seen at break time. The girl stopped attending lessons at the end of the second term when she was hiding from others occasionally and returning home. She didn’t go back to school for the third term.

The trauma from harassment, and the exclusion that may result from pregnancies outside of marriage in the case of assault, can be devastating for adolescent girls, endangering their whole future and opportunities in life.

In the case of the nine-year old Tsholotsho girl, the violation at such a tender age may force her to drop out of school and the negative consequences may be damaging and permanent to her, if she doesn’t receive the necessary support.

What will become of the girl, now that the whole community, country or even the whole world now knows that she was abused and later gave birth to yet another child?

The stigma, trauma and health implications for such a young girl are too difficult to comprehend.

It has become imperative for the country to strengthen child protective systems by coming up with responsive laws and legislation that protects both young boys and girls.

The laws should also ensure that deterrent sentences are given to perpetrators who are found guilty of violating minors.

A day barely passes without reports of a child having been sexually, physically and psychologically violated in various circumstances, involving parents, close relatives or people acting in loco parentis.

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) latest report shows that in 2019 to 2020, 22 children were murdered by their parents and guardians, sending alarm bells of a surge in abuse of minors.

The same report also notes that at least 133  455 women in the country went into union before reaching 18 years of age.

Of that number, one percent was in union and had children before they turned 15, and that alone points to abuse and sexual violation because a child below 16 can’t consent to sex. 

The incident of the nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl gives an insight on various forms of abuse hundreds of children could be enduring at the hands of paedophiles.

These wicked acts can only be reduced once responsible authorities make deliberate efforts to impose stiff custodial sentences to all these paedophiles and anyone caught affronting the rights and privileges of children.

Zimbabwe boasts of a litany of legal provisions that discourage and criminalise all forms of violations and abuse against children. 

However, it appears that has not been deterrent enough, judging by the cases that are being brought to the country’s courts. 

While laws against all forms of violations, domestic violence and abuse may not be sufficient to end these forms of abuse, they are an important step the country now needs towards ending violence against women and girls.

President Mnangagwa has on several occasions called to order paedophiles and other perpetrators, saying their days are numbered.

Officially opening the 29th session of the Junior Parliament belatedly last year, President Mnangagwa warned people who abuse children, saying the fight against child abuse, child marriages and other harmful practices was being intensified.

The President said his Government was committed to ensuring that justice is delivered for children who have been violated.

“My Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of justice for our children. Standalone child friendly courts are being set up within our main court systems,” he said.

Countries must strive to ensure that every birth is intended, and should not be as tragic as that of the nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl. 

It is important for communities to report cases of child sexual abuse, most of which are swept under the carpet, together with child marriages orchestrated by the patriarchs.

In a move to protect children’s rights, the Constitutional Court in 2016 banned child marriages and other harmful practices that are detrimental to children.

The landmark ruling followed a year-long case where two former young brides, Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi filed an application asking the Constitutional Court to declare the Marriage Act and the Customary Marriage Act a breach of the new Constitution.

The court further said other illegitimate marriages that have taken place on religious or cultural grounds are unconstitutional.

Speaking during an engagement meeting with women in production recently, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said it was disheartening to note the rise in the abuse of children with perpetrators not being brought to book.

“I’ve heard a lot about how children are being abused and married off very young, my ministry is against that. Women should unite against the abuse of children. They should rise up and let their voices be heard,” said Dr Nyoni.

Zimbabwe has a number of laws relating to children’s rights, but their implementation remains weak in some facets.

It is therefore, everyone’s responsibility to protect children from all forms of abuse as well as speak out against abuse as children are the future. – @Yolisswa