Gospel musicians minister Albert and minister Estar Zinyamba have warned communities against activities and practices that perpetuate child marriages.
Speaking in an interview with ZimGospel Masters magazine, minister Albert Zinyemba said families have a responsibility to create a safe environment that does not push minors into early love affairs that often lead to early marriages.
“Many children are being pushed into early marriages because of the environment they grow up in. I call upon parents, guardians and community leaders to protect children and allow them to complete their education,” said Zinyemba
Minister Zinyemba urged communities to stop cultural and social practices that expose young girls to abuse and early marriages, saying child marriages destroy the future of children.
He further encouraged men to be good role models for their male children. He said men must take a leading role in teaching young boys to be responsible, to desist from drug and substance abuse, and to work very hard in school so that they become future leaders.
Meanwhile, his wife minister Estar Zinyemba also challenged women to take a leading role in raising a girl child. She further said young girls must pursue education in order to achieve women empowerment which will contribute to the development of communities and the nation at large.
“I want to challenge families to expose every form of child abuse and harassment of a girl child. Hiding such cases can lead to broken families and destroyed futures of a girl child. Ending child marriages requires collective effort from families, churches, traditional leaders and the government,” she said
The couple has already intensified efforts to educate communities about the dangers of drug and substance abuse. They have released songs like “Yambiro”, and “Vabereki” which advocate against drug abuse and child marriages.
Approximately up to 57% of Zimbabwean youths have engaged in drug or substance abuse and 33,9% of girls married before age 18.
