In Zimbabwe, young girls are challenging an old tradition known as “Nhanga,” which historically groomed child brides to please their adult husbands. This practice, once focused on teaching obedience and sexual satisfaction, is now being redefined in Shamva. Here, Nhanga has transformed into a safe space where girls freely discuss various topics, including sexuality, child marriage, pregnancy, education, and empowerment.
The initiative aims to empower girls against early marriage, a prevalent issue in Zimbabwe where many girls marry before turning 18. While child marriage is prohibited in Zimbabwe and other African countries, cultural norms, poverty, and weak law enforcement hinder its eradication. Former child bride Samantha Chidodo shared her experience of being forced into marriage at 17 but later pursued education to become a law student.
A positive shift is seen as more girls engage in the modern Nhanga movement, with over 200 girls in one village participating and schools adopting similar models. Local leaders now enforce rules against early marriage, with offenders fined to support girls’ education. Despite government policies, cultural attitudes remain a challenge, as some view pregnancy and child marriage as disciplinary issues rather than societal problems.
Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, a women’s rights advocate, emphasized the need to address social norms and empower girls directly to combat child marriage effectively. The long-term solution, as echoed by young mentor Anita Razo, lies in influencing positive behavior among girls to create a supportive community against harmful practices.