In Zimbabwe, a traditional practice known as “Nhanga” used to prepare young girls for marriage by teaching them how to fulfill their adult husbands sexually. However, this practice is now undergoing a transformation as young girls in Shamva are challenging this norm. Instead of being a space for obedience training, the Nhanga has become a safe environment where girls freely discuss important topics like sexuality, child marriage, pregnancy, gender equality, education, and legal rights.
The goal is to empower girls to resist child marriage, a prevalent issue in Zimbabwe where one in three girls marries before turning 18. Although child marriage is outlawed in Zimbabwe and other African countries, eliminating this practice remains challenging due to factors such as poverty, weak law enforcement, and deeply rooted cultural and religious beliefs.
Samantha Chidodo, who was forced into marriage at 17, shared her story of breaking free from the oppressive tradition. With the support of the Rozaria Memorial Trust, she returned to school and became a role model for other girls. Today, the Nhanga movement has gained momentum, with over 200 girls in Shamva participating and schools across Zimbabwe adopting this empowering model.
Local leaders, like Xmas Savanhu, now enforce strict rules against early marriage, with offenders facing penalties like providing a cow for the girl’s education. Despite these efforts, cultural attitudes towards child marriage persist, as highlighted by Enet Tini, a teacher and mentor. Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, from U.N. Women, emphasized the importance of shifting social norms to combat child marriage, which she described as a form of rape and exploitation, particularly affecting African girls.
Razo, the young mentor, stressed the need for collective action among girls to drive positive change, emphasizing the role of peer influence in shaping behaviors. The transformation of the Nhanga tradition symbolizes a shift towards empowering girls and challenging harmful practices that perpetuate child marriage.