Policy makers, judiciary officials, traditional leaders, government ministries, and civil society organisations convened on Thursday for a national roundtable aimed at accelerating the implementation of laws protecting girls from child marriage.
The meeting, hosted by Plan International Zimbabwe under the theme “Child Marriage: From Policy to Practice,” focused on transforming legal reforms into meaningful, community-level action in areas where harmful practices continue.
Chief Magistrate of Zimbabwe, Mrs. Vongai Palmer Guwuriro, called for strengthened collaboration to ensure every girl is protected from early marriage and supported to reach her full potential.
“Every child in Zimbabwe can learn and thrive. We must share lessons and take action to end child marriage once and for all, guided by unity and accountability so every child reaches their potential,” she said.
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Stakeholders noted that despite progressive legal reforms — including the Marriages Act (2022), which sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 — challenges persist due to conflicting customary and religious practices.
Equality Now’s Regional Representative for Southern Africa, Sally Ncube, urged full harmonisation of the law to remove any ambiguity.
“Policy must ensure that the minimum age of marriage — 18 in Zimbabwe’s Marriages Act of 2022 — is unequivocal and overrides any conflicting customary or religious laws,” she said.
Organisers said the discussions will guide strategies that align national commitments with practical community-level interventions, ensuring that girls are protected, remain in school, and have access to brighter futures.
The roundtable forms part of ongoing national and regional efforts to end child marriage and strengthen the rights and wellbeing of girls in Zimbabwe.
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