Dear Hon Ziyambi,
We, the concerned women of Zimbabwe, are writing to express our deep concern about the lack of protection for our girls against sexual exploitation.
The lapse of the Temporary Presidential Powers, section 70, on July 31, 2024 has left our vulnerable girls exposed to sexual predators.
Speaking to Veritas on August 23, 2024, you assured the nation that the Bill will be signed into law in a week’s time.
It has been almost two weeks since then.
We kindly call upon you to expedite the process for presidential assent.
Last week, Primary and Secondary Education minister Edgar Moyo, speaking in Parliament, revealed sad statistics that 4 500 girls fell pregnant and dropped out of secondary school.
Very young girls in primary school totalling more than 150 were raped and fell pregnant and dropped out of school too.
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Let children be children.
They are not brides.
With five women reportedly dying everyday while giving birth, the risk increases for minor girls.
The number could be higher given unrecorded home deliveries.
Young girls have not fully developed and are at risk of obstetric fistula or even dying while giving birth.
While Zimbabwe has not carried out a survey to quantify the number of obstetric fistula cases, the country’s high maternal mortality rate, despite the declining trends suggests a significant burden of maternal morbidity, including obstetric fistula.
Hence, minor girls are heavily burdened.
According to the National Aids Council, new HIV infections were 15 312 last year.
Young women and girls were most at risk, six times more likely to be living with HIV than young men of their ages.
This shows that their sexual relationships are with older men who infect them.
One in five new HIV infections among 15-24-year-old girls is attributed to age-disparate relationships, increasing their vulnerability (UNAIDS 2022).
Unicef reports that women have a higher HIV prevalence rate (14,7%) than men (8,7%).
HIV incidence is highest in females aged 15-29 years.
Among the 15-19 years, the incidence among females is six times higher than that of their male counterparts.
The lack of a law to protect young girls is violence in itself.
UNAIDS reports that 22% of girls aged 15-19 years have had sex with a partner 10 or more years older.
We cannot afford to wait any longer as every passing day puts more girls at risk.
We need robust enforcement mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
The State has a duty to ensure children’s safety and hold perpetrators accountable.
Please hear our plea.
- Sheillah Kanyangarara and Catherine Murombedzi, Concerned women speaking on behalf of vulnerable girls in Zimbabwe
