By Tendai Chisiri
Shamwari YeMwanasikana Demands Urgent Action After 518 Child Pregnancies Recorded in Bubi District
Child rights group says figure signals “serious child protection crisis”
Harare, 1 June 2026 – Child rights organization Shamwari YeMwanasikana has called for immediate national intervention after Bubi District recorded 518 child pregnancy cases in the past year.
The group says the statistic exposes the continued vulnerability of girls to sexual abuse, exploitation, child marriage, poverty, and harmful social norms that “rob them of their childhood, education, health, and future opportunities.”
“Every child pregnancy is a violation of a child’s rights and should be treated as a matter of national concern,” Shamwari YeMwanasikana said in a statement issued Monday. “The reported cases are a reminder that stronger prevention, protection, and accountability measures are urgently needed.”
Call for action
The organization is pushing for 5 key steps:
- Expedited implementation of the National Action Plan to End Child Marriages and Child Pregnancies, with clear targets and community-level interventions.
- Strengthened monitoring of commitments under the High-Level Political Compact on Ending Child Marriages.
- National Sex Offenders Register to prevent repeat offending and safeguard children from known perpetrators.
- Regulation of churches and religious institutions, including mandatory child safeguarding policies and reporting procedures.
- Improved reporting mechanisms in mining communities, where Shamwari YeMwanasikana says underreporting is likely due to poverty, weak protection systems, and limited access to services.
“While 518 cases were reported in Bubi, this may represent only a fraction of the true extent of abuse affecting children in mining settlements and surrounding communities,” the organization warned.
Shamwari YeMwanasikana urged government, traditional leaders, law enforcement, faith leaders, civil society, parents, and communities to work together to strengthen survivor-centred services, keep girls in school, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
“Zimbabwe’s children deserve to grow up free from abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect. Protecting them is a collective responsibility that requires urgent and sustained action,” the statement concluded.
Background: Shamwari YeMwanasikana
Shamwari YeMwanasikana, meaning “Friends of the Girl Child,” is a Zimbabwean non-governmental organization that advocates for the rights and welfare of girls and young women. The group focuses on ending child marriage, gender-based violence, and harmful cultural practices through community education, policy advocacy, and support for survivors. It has been vocal in campaigns to protect girls’ access to education and health services, particularly in rural and mining areas where child protection risks are highest.
The Bubi District figures add to growing concern over child pregnancies in Zimbabwe. According to the 2022 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, 22% of women aged 20-24 gave birth before age 18. Child marriage remains illegal in Zimbabwe following a 2016 Constitutional Court ruling, but enforcement and social norms continue to be challenges.
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