By Chipo Chiluma
As rural women currently running campaigns against early marriages/pregnancies and keeping girls in school, gender based violence Zambia RWA have so far done the campaigns in the following areas (Rufunsa, Mungule, Shibuyunji, and Chongwe). As the number of GBV cases are increasing in Zambia, Zambia rural women decided to sensitise in schools and in communities etc.
In the campaigns held in the districts of Zambia RWA decided to invite some of government and community stakeholders such as;
-TEACHERS
– POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS
-HEADMEN/WOMEN
-CHURCH LEADERS
– PSYCHOSOCIAL COUNSELLORS
-AGRICULTURE OFFICERS
-PARENTS
School going children in attendance were;
-SHIBUYUNJI — 40 girls & 10 boys
-CHONGWE –32
-MUNGULE — 42
-RUFUNSA – 90
Making a total number of participants 214 members were present the campaigns
In these campaigns the main discussions were the causes of GBV, the causes of early marriages, and the negative impact of early marriages. Consent was being taken from school authorities, parents and headmens to allow these campaigns to take place in communities (villages). The purpose of these campaigns were to sensitise school going children, parents and the community at large on GBV and early marriages etc. These campaigns were very interesting and educational to people in the community for they were the ones to discuss things that are happening in the communities. In these campaigns people discussed the negative effects of early marriages which were ,unexpected household expenditure, leaving school early or loss of school morale ,children start dating at an early age without them knowing anything or testing for any diseases as a result transmitted diseases get higher day by day. The reasons for early marriages/pregnancies were discussed as parents and pupils (etc) were very frank, honest and open to discuss these issues. Some of the early marriage reasons were discussed as poor parents get off their teen children in hope of good life (girls get early pregnancies due to some parents sending children to men/boys in exchange of material or money things) , girls having peer pressure , girls get impregnated early due to indecent dressings as a result a girl child maybe raped and get men attracted to her.
They further gave a chance to male parents who present to talk about their own experiences or what they have noticed in the communities that causes early pregnancies/marriages, in the their discussions they stated girls are copying the indecent dressing from mothers and female teachers at school, the law on early marriages/pregnancies should punish the offenders more than the parents that are mostly blamed. Parents complained of advising girl children while the don’t take the advices from the parents instead some take advice from other girls (friends) who are influencing them to do bad things such as having boyfriends, especially from poor home there are easily taken into these things because they are being advised that boys give money not knowing they are selling themselves.
In conclusion, it was discussed that the lifestyle of children should be monitored by every concerned person in the community, to instil discipline of children by parents, church leaders, teachers , traditional leaders, church leaders etc, children must be ensured not to join into bad group influences. Every child (especially teens) must be in school. We now have a situation in Rufunsa village as a girl was impregnated was sent to the boys family until a child is born, it’s when the parents from both families will sit and discuss the issue ,whether there will be marriage or not, for therefore, this was discussed as a practice of GBV.
