Child Marriages in Zimbabwe and Implications to the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

This study explored how early marriages threaten the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among form four girl learners at two secondary schools in Masvingo rural, Zimbabwe, with the aim of proposing sustainable measures and policies to curtail the effect of early marriages. The case study research design was used in this study. Data was collected through interviews from four girl learners and four teachers. An inductive method to analyse findings was used to derive major themes from the gathered findings. The study established that early marriages are a severe violation of children’s rights and directly hinder the achievement of the first six SDGs (1, 2,3,4,5 and 6), the promotion of basic education and the fight against poverty as well as gender equality. The study also established that the married girls drop out of school, engage in full time household chores, are exposed to serious health risks such as sexually transmitted infections, HIV and AIDS and domestic violence all of which negatively affect the achievement of SDGs. On the way forward, the study proposed that all perpetrators of early marriages be given tough sentences and the majority age of marriage be raised to twenty one as the one currently stipulated by conventions is too low. There is also need to empower girls and the need for governments to continue to make efforts to address the root causes underlying child marriages.