The Sunday News
Valencia Ndhlovu, Sunday News Reporter
A ZWANGENDABA High School pupil last Friday won an essay writing competition on curbing and exposing the scourge of child marriages in Zimbabwe.
The competition was organised by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in conjuction with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights at Goromonzi High School in Mashonaland East Province. Miss Natalie Ndlovu, who is a Form 5 student at Zwangendaba was representing Matabeleland North province and was judged as the national winner. She was also honoured as the regional winner for Matabeleland North province.
Ministry-of-Primary-and-Secondary-Education
In a statement, it was revealed that a total of 1 908 essay entries were received from six provinces namely Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands. Chief director for primary and secondary formal and non-formal education in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mrs Olivia Kaira, bemoaned child marriages saying they stifle economic development as children won’t develop to reach their greater heights.
“Child marriages are a form of forced union with under-aged children and are a violation of laid down regulations that safeguard the interests of children and result in grave human rights violations against children. These rights include the right to education, the right to human dignity, freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the right to personal security and the right to protect the best interests of the child in all matters as enshrined in the Constitution,” said Mrs Kaira.
Other regional winners were Blessed Masunga of Hama High School in Midlands province, Charity Mashasha of Gwanda High School in Matabeleland South province, Tanatswa Chafesuka of Chifamba High School in Mashonaland Central province, Lawrence Moyo of Kutama Day High School in Mashonaland West province and Adelaide Sithole of Sengoda College in Mashonaland East province, who all got certificates and prize money.
