Plan THE ZIMBABWE NATIONAL CHIEFS’ COUNCIL MEETING ON ENDING CHILD MARRIAGES IN ZIMBABWE RAINBOW TOWERS HOTEL, HARARE, ZIMBABWE 3 MARCH 2014 COMMUNIQUE WE, members of the Zimbabwean National Chiefs’ Council, from eight (8) rural provinces, having converged at Rainbow Towers Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe, on 3 March 2014, for the National Chiefs’ ‘on Ending Child Marriages in Zimbabwe, dubbed 18+, convened by the Ministry ‘of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development in partnership with Plan Zimbabwe; Council Mee © Recognise that Child Marriage is a harmful practice that is significantly prevalent in Zimbabwe and remarkably undermines the best interests of the girl child; + Further recognise that Child Marriage has adverse effects for the child and for the society as a whole, when girls marry, many stop going to school, Child Marriage therefore robs them of their education, health and long term prospects; + Note.with concern that, 31% (UNFPA, 2012 report) of girls are married before the age of 18 years in Zimbabwe; + Further note that in 2009 the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) recorded that 16,3% of the Zimbabwean population is married by the age of 15 years; + Aware that some cultural norms among other social, economic and religious practices contribute to prevalence of child marriage Mindful of the fact that, as the Traditional Leaders, in addition to being in charge of social, economic matters, we are also the custodians of cultural heritage, norms, values and potential key agents of change, we therefore stand in solidarity with Ministry of Women's Affairs Gender and Community Development and Plan Zimbabwe and therefore:Commit as the National Chiefs’ Council, to take lead in interventions that are aimed at ending child marriages through implementing the following important steps; > Partnering with Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Plan Zimbabwe and other relevant Development Partners at every level to promote Ending Child Marriages in Zimbabwe > Reviving cultural education through cascading the information on Ending Child Marriages to all the 272 Chiefs in provincial meetings, and ensuring that they further disseminate the same information to the headmen, village heads and ultimately the community at large; > Leading in the dissemination of awareness campaigns on Ending Child Marriages in schools and to out of school youths as well as engaging at-risk young people and women; > Strengthening and creating clear structures and platforms where Traditional and Religious Leaders converge and exchange ideas at National, Provincial, District and ‘Community levels; > Collaborating with Government and Development Partners in reviving the ‘Zunde raMambo’ concept to extend beyond food security in order to avert household poverty In view of the above and in cognisance of Chapter 15 of the New Constitution, we therefore; Urge the State, all institutions and agencies of Government and Development Partners at all levels to take measures to ensure due respect for the dignity of traditional institutions, Call for a multi-sectoral engagement with the Traditional Leaders in addressing child marriages, Call for the empowerment of the Traditional Leaders through enhanced trainings, workshops, refresher courses on the law in order to harmonise cultural law and general law, Call for the harnessing of Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET) as a vehicle to address social and economic challenges that lead to child marriages Call on in depth joint research and public education involving traditional leaders on culture, values, practices and norms that are consistent with the Constitution of Zimbabwe.Signed on 4 March 2014 by Senator Chief F.2 Charumbira President of Zimbabwe National Council of Chiefs re Gag Honourable A. Damasane Deputy Minister, Ministry of Women’s Affairs Gender and Community Development A Mr. Z. Chidhakwa Program Support Manager, Plan Zimbabwe