APOSTOLIC Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) leader Johannes Ndanga yesterday said the organisation would jointly work with Police’s Victims Friendly Unit (VFU) during the Easter holidays to campaign against child marriage.
By Everson Mushava Chief Reporter
The VFU is a unit in the police that looks at the violation of children’s rights and offers psychological assistance to the victims.
“We have now partnered the Victims Friendly Unit and we will move around the country at this year’s Easter holiday church gatherings to tell leaders of apostolic churches that it is a criminal offence to marry under-age girls,” Ndanga said.
Apostolic churches have been accused of promoting child marriage of some girls as young as 10 years.
A report released last week by the Research and Advocacy Unit showed that over 30% of girls in Zimbabwe marry before the age of 18 mainly due to religious practices and poverty.
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“We are concluding on the logistical programmes. We will take advantage of the huge gatherings at churches to spread the message,” Ndanga said.