our 2016, we are going YONDER!!!

IN HWANGE

Hwange Report.

Description of problem in Relation to setting.

Hwange is a mining district that is situated in Matebeleland North Zimbabwe. The population is quite diverse with a total of 16 languages being spoken across the district which has an estimated population size of 200 000 Some of the languages and cultures found in Hwange include Tonga, Venda, Nambia, Ndebele and Shona. Like its other counterparts in Matebeleland North, child marriage is rife in Hwange, which shares the same prevalence statistics as Binga. Similar to Binga, the Apostolic and Zion churches are said to make up the majority of this population. In the context of Hwange a number of factors were identified during the tour as determinants of child marriage. Key to these factors were lack of knowledge about child marriage being a criminal practise, poverty leading to child prostitution, church doctrines as well as culture.

Activities carried out.

1.     Follow up dialogue with the Bishops, church and community members

This activity sought to put emphasis on what was conversed during the bishop’s dialogue in Harare and in this regard helped in identifying specific determinants of child marriage in the context of Hwange. The activity also helped in identifying the practical solutions to the identified determinants.

2.     Distribution of IEC material.

This process together with the explanation of the IEC material contents helped in the increasing of knowledge on child marriage amongst attendees. An immediate suggestion by the attendees was the training of peer educators who would reach the Hwange community and raise awareness on the fight against child marriage.

3.     Training of club leaders.

With limited time and resources we trained health and club leaders, as the Unit hopes to establish health and rights clubs in the churches. The clubs will constantly do activities in the churches in regard to the subject of SRHR focusing on child marriage. The club leaders were drawn from different churches represented and pledged to start the clubs in the churches when the      UNIT provides material for them.