Zimbabwe: Students Lead Awareness on Child Marriage in Lupane District

On 21 January 2026, the Zimbabwe Education Fund Trust (ZIMEFU) conducted an awareness session at Vulindlela Secondary School in Lupane District, Zimbabwe. The session was facilitated by Gibson Mwinde, Assistant Programmes Manager at ZIMEFU, and focused on helping children understand child marriage and its impacts.

The programme aimed to raise awareness among students about children’s rights, access to education, and the harmful effects of child marriage. It also highlighted the role of schools, communities, and government stakeholders in preventing this practice. A total of 152 participants attended the session, including 150 students and 2 teachers.

The session used age-appropriate and interactive methods to engage students. Learners led creative activities, including poems and skits, to reflect real situations from their communities. Sanitary pads were also distributed to students during the event.

One of the skits showed a father marrying off his child in exchange for cattle, reflecting a common driver of child marriage in the local context.

“In one of the skits, there was a depiction of a father marrying off children for cattles, which shows one of the key causes of child marriage in the locality.”

-Mr. Mwinde

Reporting child marriage was an important part of the session. Students were informed about Childline Zimbabwe, a quasi-government organisation that operates a 24-hour toll-free child helpline (116). The service is available in English, Shona, and Ndebele and is supported by trained volunteer counsellors.

At the end of the programme, all participants took a pledge to stand against child marriage.

Child marriage remains a concern in Zimbabwe. According to a 2022 report by the Women’s Refugee Commission, more than one million girls in the country were married as children, with poverty and food insecurity identified as key contributing factors. This session helped create space for learning, reflection, and discussion on how communities can respond to these challenges.