Teenage Pregnancies and Child Marriages in Manicaland Fueling Generational Poverty Crisis

A sharp rise in teenage pregnancies and child marriages in Manicaland Province is sparking a devastating cycle of poverty, with thousands of girls being forced out of school, losing access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

New figures from the National AIDS Council revealed a disturbing reality in 2024, with 13,353 teenage girls falling pregnant, and 161 girls dropping out of school due to child marriages. Alarmingly, 12 of these girls were still in primary school. These statistics have brought attention to a deep-rooted social and economic crisis that is threatening the future of many young girls in the province.

In response, Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) issued a statement expressing grave concern over the situation. The organization described the statistics as a reflection of a national crisis and a blatant violation of the rights of the girl child.

“This is not just a statistic. It is a national crisis and a blatant violation of the rights of the girl child,” said LEAD President Linda Masarira. “The fact that three primary school learners were impregnated and many more forced into marriage should shock the conscience of every Zimbabwean.”

Masarira emphasized that teenage pregnancies deprive girls of their right to education, often condemning them to a lifetime of poverty, dependence, and reduced opportunities for social mobility.

“We are losing a generation of girls to poverty, sexual abuse, harmful cultural practices, and institutional neglect,” she added.

LEAD has called for immediate legal action against those responsible for exploiting minors, including guardians, religious leaders, and community members who facilitate or condone such practices. “Perpetrators must face the full wrath of the law,” Masarira asserted.

The organization is also advocating for schools to become safe spaces for vulnerable girls, ensuring they have access to sexual and reproductive health education that caters to their specific needs.

“Education is the key to empowering these girls and breaking the cycle of poverty,” Masarira said. “We need to create environments where they can learn, grow, and aspire for better futures.”

In addition to education, LEAD is calling for targeted economic empowerment programs to support families in poverty. These programs, they argue, could help prevent the factors that push girls into early marriages and teenage pregnancies.

“When families are economically secure, girls are less likely to be pushed into early marriages,” Masarira explained.

LEAD also believes that traditional and religious leaders who endorse or tolerate child marriages must be held accountable for their actions. The organization is pushing for the outlawing of harmful cultural practices that perpetuate child marriages and contribute to the exploitation of young girls.

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission and Child Protection Committees are also in need of greater support to tackle this crisis effectively. LEAD warned that without proper resources and enforcement powers, the crisis will continue to worsen.

Raising awareness at the community level is seen as a crucial step in addressing the issue. LEAD has endorsed grassroots initiatives like the #NotInMyVillage campaign, calling on communities to take a stand against child marriages and teenage pregnancies.

“Communities must stand up for their girls. These conversations need to happen in homes, churches, schools, and village meetings,” said Masarira.

The organization is urging swift and decisive action to ensure the protection of young girls and to prevent the crisis from spiraling further. If left unaddressed, LEAD warned, this issue could continue to cut short the dreams and aspirations of thousands more girls each year, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

Failure to act, they said, would only serve to deepen the generational crisis already unfolding in Manicaland and other parts of the country.