Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia, has made a passionate plea to parents to stop forcing children into early marriages and also pleaded with rapists to stop abusing women.
by BLESSED MHLANGA
Auxillia, who is Chirumanzu-Zibagwe MP, made the remarks at a prize-giving day at Shungu High School in Kwekwe where she was guest of honour.
“Parents, please stop forcing us (children) into early marriages. Give us (children) the chance to access education and find out what it is we can do, which is not being forced into marriage. You are forcing children into these early marriages because you are in rural areas and you think we will not see you,” Mnangagwa said.
She also pleaded with the police to maintain a tough stance on child molesters.
“Police, please arrest these people and when they are jailed, the keys should be thrown away so that we can never see them again. Parents don’t protect your relatives who rape our children and those who rape, just stop it,” she cried.
Her statements came amid reports that last year alone, a total of 280 girls were forced out of school in Kwekwe district, while 82 pupils have already left school this year after being forced into early marriages or because of unplanned pregnancies.
Kwekwe’s acting district education officer Irene Mapenzauswa said the number of girls dropping out of school to enter into marriage was alarming.
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“Those men who think they have money start attacking these young girls and forcing them out of school and the figures are just alarming and are a great cause of concern,” Mapenzauswa said.
