‘Child Marriages A Major Problem In Apostolic Churches’-ACCZ President, Johannes Ndanga

GWERU: Child marriages are a major problem among the apostolic sects and the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) is working with the United Nations Population Fund to address the problem, ACCZ president, Johannes Ndanga has said.

Ndanga said apostolic churches are raising awareness campaigns to fight early marriages, especially among young girls.

Latest statistics show that 21 percent of girls marry before they reach the age 18 years and about 15 percent of these girls are married before they reach the age of 15.

Apostolic sects have approximately 1,2 million members across the country, a significant figure that can hugely impact on increased child marriages.

“Child marriages are a major problem within our churches,” Ndanga said at a recent ACCZ Midlands women’s conference.

“We are vigorously campaigning against child marriages and to achieve that we are working closely with the United Nations Population Fund.”

Ndanga said girls should be married after they reach the age of 18 adding that marital relationships among young girls were a violation of their rights.

Health experts say young girls in marriages are vulnerable to HIV and Aids, sexually transmitted infections as well as maternal mortality.

While the constitution provides for children’s rights the laws are not enforced to protect them from early marriages.

According to the latest Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Monitoring Survey, 21% of children, mostly girls, are married before the age of 18.

According to the survey, poverty, cultural and religious practices are the key drivers of child marriages in Zimbabwe. source-newzimbabwe