By Edward Makuzva
MUTOKO, MASHONALAND EAST —In the quiet corners of rural Zimbabwe where dust roads wind through villages and tradition holds firm, a silent crisis persists—one that is robbing young girls of their futures and stifling the nation’s development. Child marriage, though outlawed, remains a stubborn reality, driven by poverty, cultural norms, and a lack of opportunity.
Despite efforts to eliminate the practice, thousands of girls across Zimbabwe are still being married off before they turn 18, often at the expense of their education, health, and dreams.
In some communities, girls as young as 12 are ushered into adulthood too soon, expected to take on the roles of wives and mothers. For many, this marks the end of their schooling and the beginning of a lifetime of economic and emotional vulnerability. Education—the very tool that could break the cycle of poverty—becomes a lost opportunity.
At just 14 years old, Rudo Moyo (not her real name) should be in school, giggling with classmates and preparing for her Grade 7 exams. Instead, she balances a baby on her hip while preparing sadza for her husband—an older man chosen by her parents in exchange for a few goats and the promise of a better life.
Her story echoes thousands more across Zimbabwe. In rural communities from Chimanimani to Gokwe, child marriage continues to thrive under the veil of custom, economic hardship, and silence. And despite laws that prohibit it, many young girls like Rudo are forced to trade dreams of education for early motherhood and dependency.
A National Emergency in Slow Motion
Zimbabwe’s constitution, since the landmark 2016 amendment, clearly outlaws marriage under the age of 18. But reality defies legislation.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), 32.6% of girls in the country are married before the age of 18. In some provinces, particularly Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East, the figures rise even higher, with nearly one in every two girls married before adulthood. This ranks Zimbabwe among the countries with the highest child marriage rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
UNICEF also reports that one in three women aged 20 to 49 in Zimbabwe was married before age 18, while 5% of girls were married before age 15. These figures reflect more than numbers—they represent lost futures.
UNICEF added that child marriage has a devastating impact on girls. Child marriage disrupts childhood and deprives girls of their right to be a child.
“Child marriage often leads to school drop-out, not allowing girls to develop their full potential, and early pregnancies when a girl is mentally and physically not yet able to give birth and take care of a young child”, said UNICEF.
Ziyambi Clarifies Child Marriage Ban Under 2022 Marriage Act
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has reaffirmed that the 2022 Marriage Act fully prohibits child marriages in Zimbabwe by setting 18 as the legal minimum age for marriage, in line with the national Constitution.
Ziyambi said the Act aligns with Section 78(1) of the Constitution, which states that no person may marry before reaching the age of 18.
“This law places a complete prohibition on child marriages,” said Ziyambi.
He dismissed widespread claims that the Act had abolished the traditional practice of lobola, clarifying that the payment of bride price remains a requirement for customary marriages.
“The payment of roora or lobola is still a requirement,” he said.
The minister also emphasized that the Act does not alter the structure of civil or customary marriages, but instead strengthens child protection measures. He said government outreach programs are underway to educate the public on the provisions of the new law.
“Public education is key. We are working to ensure citizens understand their rights and responsibilities under this new legal framework,” said Ziyambi.
The Ministry of Justice is urging citizens seeking further clarity to engage with its outreach programs on the 2022 Marriage Act.
“It is a quiet emergency,” says Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, who has been vocal on the issue. “Child marriage is not just a gender issue—it is a development issue. Every girl denied her childhood is a nation denied its future.”
Minister Mutsvangwa emphasized that ending child marriage is central to achieving Vision 2030. “We cannot speak of a middle-income economy when a third of our girls are locked out of school and opportunity.”
Childhood Traded for Survival
In communities like Mutoko, where poverty is entrenched and food security uncertain, families sometimes see marriage as a survival strategy. For a family struggling to pay school fees, marrying off a daughter can feel like relief.
“Poverty is the number one reason families give their daughters away,” says Tatenda Chihava, a youth advocate and volunteer with SAYWHAT (Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team). “But we must stop pretending marriage is a solution. It is a sentence.” Once these girls are married, their lives take a different trajectory.
“They lose autonomy, their access to education, and their chance to be economically independent”, Said Chihava.
Chihava highlighted that the implications go far beyond individual lives. Child marriage contributes to national underdevelopment by shrinking the pool of educated women who can contribute to the economy, lead families out of poverty, and mentor the next generation.
Early marriage is often followed by early pregnancy—another threat to the health and future of young girls. Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health reports that 21% of maternal deaths occur among adolescents aged 15–19, with early pregnancy being a major cause of complications.
Lost Education, Lost Potential
The tragedy extends beyond the wedding ceremony. Once married, most girls drop out of school—cut off from the possibility of formal employment, financial independence, or leadership.
Education experts agree: keeping girls in school is the strongest tool against early marriage. Girls who complete secondary education are up to six times less likely to marry before 18.
Yet, in many rural districts, schools are under-resourced, far from home, or unaffordable. In this vacuum, marriage is often the only door left open.
A Legal Framework Without Teeth?
Despite constitutional backing, child marriage laws are poorly enforced. In some cases, victims are silenced by family loyalty or fear.
She reaveled that police officers, especially in remote regions, often treat such cases as “family matters.”
Minister Mutsvangwa has urged for stronger inter-ministerial cooperation. “We need teachers, police, health workers, and traditional leaders to be frontline defenders of our girls. The law is clear—what’s lacking is consistent action”, Minister Mutsvangwa explained.
Voices of Resistance
Still, not all is bleak. Civil society groups are pushing back—changing narratives, one village at a time. Organizations like Girls Not Brides Zimbabwe, Plan International, and SAYWHAT have launched community awareness programs, offered scholarships, and trained girls in leadership and reproductive health.
“These scholarships are more than financial aid,” says Chihava. “They’re a statement: girls are worth more than any bride price.”
Some efforts are yielding fruit. In districts like Mutasa and Mbire, traditional leaders have signed by-laws banning child marriage and committed to reporting violators.
Toward a Cultural Revolution
Ending child marriage in Zimbabwe will take more than laws and leaflets. It requires a cultural transformation—a collective decision to value girls not for their dowry potential, but for their dreams.
“We must build a society where a girl in a school uniform is more celebrated than one in a wedding dress,” Minister Mutsvangwa declared during a recent public awareness campaign.
Girls like Rudo, now back in school through an NGO reintegration program, are living proof of what’s possible. “I want to be a nurse,” she says shyly. “I don’t want my daughter to live the life I almost had” she said.
A Nation’s Turning Point
With political will, grassroots activism, and unwavering commitment, Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads. The choice is clear: uphold tradition at the cost of a generation, or reimagine a future where every girl—regardless of background—is free to learn, lead, and thrive.
The bride price may have once been a symbol of honor. Today, it must no longer be the price of a girl’s freedom.
Meanwhile, statistics released by the Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) paint a concerning picture of child marriage prevalence across the country’s ten provinces. The data reveals stark provincial disparities, with Mashonaland Central recording the highest proportion of girls married before the age of 18 at a staggering 49.5%. This is closely followed by Mashonaland West at 41.7% and Mashonaland East at 37.8%, underscoring a trend where the northern provinces are disproportionately affected.
In the eastern province of Manicaland, the rate stands at 36.0%, while Masvingo in the south records 35.3%, further illustrating the national spread of the issue. Matabeleland North follows with a prevalence of 32.9%, and Midlands sits slightly lower at 30.4%.
Meanwhile, Matabeleland South registers a comparatively lower rate at 22.2%, while the metropolitan provinces of Harare and Bulawayo record the lowest figures at 21.7% and 13.5% respectively. These lower rates in urban provinces are largely attributed to better access to education, health services, and child protection mechanisms, in contrast to rural areas where cultural practices, poverty, and lack of enforcement of child protection laws contribute to higher incidences of early marriage.
The disparities highlight a critical need for targeted, region-specific interventions that address the root causes of child marriage, including poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to education, especially in high-burden provinces like Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West.