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Mashonaland Central Bureau
KATSWE Sistahood is spearheading a goat project in Mbire District as part of supporting the girl child’s education and reducing early marriages.

A total of 275 villagers in wards eight and 10 are involved in the project which is expected to generate about $28 000 by September.

Katswe Sistahood programme officer Ms Fadziso Mawunganidze said through combined efforts with the local leadership including Chief Chitsungo, district officers and village heads, there has been a remarkable reduction in the number of child marriages in the wards.

“As Katswe, we have introduced the goat rearing project that is helping them on their livelihoods and economic empowerment,” she said. “The groups have also managed to create savings clubs that are helping them to buy groceries and feed their families.

“We have reached out to 275 young women with resilience projects. There are 11 groups of 25 young women and we are expecting about $2 500 per group from this goat project in September.

“We have raised awareness on the effects of child marriages in the community in conjunction with the local leaders. Child marriages have declined from 24 girls per year to two girls from between 2017 and 2018.

“Through action initiated by the Mbire project, girls affected by teen pregnancies are now back at school. We have managed to reduce the number of school dropouts in Ward 8.”

Meanwhile, the same organisation is carrying out social accountability meetings with local leadership to hold the authorities accountable on issues that affect them.