The girl’s father, who cannot be named for legal reasons,
was reportedly given R3 700 as lobola for his daughter, highlighting the
exploitation that fuels child marriage. It is reported that sometime in March
this year the girl’s father went to where his daughter was staying in the
Silima area. He lied to her, saying she would go and work in Botswana, and
convinced her to return home with him that same day.
The following morning, Bonani Ndebele and Bekezela Ndlovu
arrived at the girl’s father’s homestead. Her father informed her of their
presence, and she went to speak with them at the gate. Bekezela told her they
were looking for a wife and had chosen her. The girl refused their proposal and
returned to the kitchen to continue her chores.
Her father entered the kitchen and informed her that the
men at the gate had already paid lobola for her. He told her to pack her
belongings and leave with them. The girl refused. Ignoring her protests, her
father handed her a bag and ordered her to go to Patrick Ndebele’s homestead in
Mzaza village, where she would live as Bonani’s wife.
As a result of her father’s orders, the girl went to stay
with Bonani for seven days before she ran away to stay with a relative.
However, the matter came to light on 18 April. At around
2am that day, the girl’s father came home drunk and accused his wife of
inciting their daughter to flee her marriage.
He repeatedly struck his wife in the face with open hands.
In pain and with a swollen face, his wife went to the police to report the
assault. She also took this opportunity to report that he had forced their
daughter into marriage. This led to his arrest.
The man has been brought before Plumtree magistrate Joshua
Nembaware on two charges of physical abuse and pledging a female person, as
defined in section 94(1) 9c0 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act
Chapter 9:23.
The man has since appeared before Plumtree magistrate
Joshua Nembaware facing two counts of physical abuse and pledging of a female
person as defined in section 94 (1) (c) of the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
He pleaded guilty to both counts and was remanded in
custody to 3 May for sentencing. Prosecutor Selestine Madziwa appeared for the
State.
Meanwhile, according to UN Women, one in three children in
Zimbabwe are married before they reach 18 years. Various UN-commissioned
reports also indicate that in many Sub-Saharan countries, there is a high
incidence of marriage among girls younger than 15.
However, the Zimbabwean government has since put in place a
law that criminalises forced marriages and marriages of people below the age of
18. B Metro
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