The interface of child protection policies, law and African perceptions towards child marriage in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe District in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Child marriage has become a global human rights issue. It is estimated that every year 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. Child marriage exists in every region of the world, and cuts across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities. This study sought to interrogate the socio-cultural circumstances and lived experiences of child marriages of Uzumba, Maramba and Pfungwe contrasting it with the legal and policy framework that seek to curb the practice. The study compared the status quo and the ideal harmonious interaction between the policies, the law and the people’s lived experiences of child marriage in Uzumba, Maramba, and Pfungwe in Zimbabwe. The intersectionality and post-colonial theories were used to assess the interface of the policies, law and the lived experiences of survivors of child marriage. The phenomenological interpretivism approach was used as an assessment tool for these lived experiences. The research employed both Qualitative semi structured and face to face interviews for the collection of information from the key informants, the experts in the legal field, the traditional gate keepers and the survivors of child marriages. The content thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study found out that there is an antagonism between the child protection policies, the law and the socio-cultural lived experiences of the people of UMP on child marriage. The top down approach is mainly used to impose foreign made policies upon the laws which are then unsuccessfully forced upon the affected people. People react to the imposition by not reporting the cases and lying about the prevalence of the phenomenon. The study also found out that the status quo on child marriage intervention is silently fueling the practice such as arresting the perpetrators without instilling change of attitude. This would encourage the practice to be swept under the carpet. The research realized that the main drivers of child marriages have changed their form. It is no longer the usual traditional practices of kuzvarira, chiramu and many others but technology like the introduction of condoms which now encourages pre-marital sex, in the long run pregnancy occurs which leads to child marriage. Early pregnancy has been identified as the main tributary that fuels child marriage. Peer pressure has been elevated of late to be a key driver. Poverty remains a key driver of child marriages but changing in terms of its form. A bottom up approach has been proposed as the best with its participatory elements in all efforts to curb the phenomena. Positive and genuine dialogue has been put forth as key to achieve the fight against the phenomenon. Working with local and traditional or religious leaders has been seen to be an effective strategy for ensuring customary and religious laws do not permit child marriage.