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Lovemore Meya Cool Lifestyle Writer
Mbire district in Mashonaland Central has attracted the lens of the Cool Lifestyle. Unfortunately it is not for a good reason. This district is becoming notorious for marrying off young girls.

The problem of teen parenthood is a cause for concern the world over and in many parts of Zimbabwe teens are getting married.

But what is worrying about Mbire is that most of the marriages are forced. Reports say that girls as young as 12 are being married off to men old enough to be their fathers sometimes in exchange for bags of grain.

Many young girls say that their future looks bleak as they fear the same fate as their peers who are now wives even though they are still children themselves.

In separate interviews with Cool Lifestyle, during the International Families Day Celebrations, last Thursday some of the young girls said life in their area is tough and doubly so when you are a young girl.

Faidess Muzveba (11) of Mukunya Village who is a Grade 6 pupil at Chitima Primary School said what is happening in their area is disturbing.

“These parents who are forcing their children into marriages at a tender age should be reported to the police and get arrested. They are depriving their daughters of the right to education because once they are forced into a marriage with an older person, they are likely to be infected with HIV,” she said.

Faidess said education is very important in everyone’s life and she would love to be married one day but at her own time and to a partner of her own choosing.

Another pupil, Anashe Mundoga (8) of Munyengwa Village, Mupedzapasi Primary School, echoed the same sentiments and showed that options for the girls are very limited.

“If someone is married at a young age they will die giving birth because of the complications they face.

“In my case, if my parents force me to get married, I will refuse and commit suicide if no one can help me out of this situation.

“A lot of my friends dropped out of school because of poverty since their parents could not afford to pay their fees. If that continues, they end up being asked to get married,” she said.

“I would like to tell all those parents or guardians who are forcing their children to get married at a young age that they are abusing them.

“One needs to be educated and live their own life, and chose a man of their own choice,” said Evelyn Muponda (12) of Makenzi Village who is doing Grade 4 at Chisunga Primary School.