Teenage mothers at business at Cross Dete. Photo Credit: Survivor Nyasulu/ The Besana Mail
Teenage Mothers Face Harsh Realities, Balancing Motherhood and Survival in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe witnessed a surge of teenage pregnancy between 2020 – 2022, but post Covid 19 era, numbers are still worrisome, with girls abandoned by their peers, rejected and dreams shuttered.
Hwange – Nozipho Moyo (18) walks up and down the byways of Lwendulu village (Number 1 Colliery residential area) selling tomatoes. She knocks door by door dodging the Hwange Colliery security officers as vending is prohibited.
With a baby strapped on her back, Nozipho needs money to take care of her fourteen (14) months old child. She found herself with pregnancy soon after finishing the ordinary level examinations. She was 16 years old.
“I wasn’t ready to be a mother, so it took a toll on my relationship with my parents. As the first born child I felt I had set a bad example for my siblings,” narrates Nozipho.
Nozipho is one among dozens of children in Hwange who are victims of teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy refers to pregnancy in a female under the age of 18. While teen pregnancy rates have declined in recent years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it remains a significant public health concern as it is often associated with higher risk of health problems for both the mother and baby and increased risk of mental issues.
Findings by UNICEF shows that, there are various factors that contribute to teen pregnancy, these include poverty and economic inequality, cultural and societal norms that encourage early pregnancy and limited support and services for young girls, among others.
Shuttered hopes
Nozipho’s story is just one example of the many challenges faced by teen mothers. Across Zimbabwe, many have dropped out of school to mind the child, struggling to balance schoolwork and parenting responsibilities. Stigmatisation is rife within the family of the affected and among peers as at times the society discriminates teen mothers.
“I faced rejection, especially from my parents, who never expected this from me,” said Nozipho.
“I was forced to stop going to school, which was something I never wanted to. My O’ level results came, and I had passed with 6 O’ levels, but I could not further my studies,” she added, highlighting the devastating impact of teen pregnancy on her education and future aspirations.
According to UNICEF, teenage pregnancy has long term effects on a girl’s education, career and economic prospects, affecting the girl’s well being and that of her child. In response to the situation, UNICEF supports young girls with access to quality education. Programs like the Child Protection Fund have been put in place to stop child marriages, female genital mutilation and other forms of violence against girls.
‘I am because we are’
Speaking to The Besana Mail, Kinda Ndlovu, a community leader, said there many cultural and social factors contributing to teenage pregnancies.
“Our society has lost cultural values, Ubuntu no longer exists in the community. In the past when a child was born, the entire community would celebrate and take the responsibility of raising that child. It’s now an individualistic society,” said Ndlovu.
Ubuntu is a phrase that denotes the African philosophy which underscores the interconnectedness and interdependence of people. It suggests that a person’s identity and humanity are shaped by their relationships with others.
“Children have too much freedom, which has led them astray. We have seen parents fighting when the other tries to correct a neighbour’s child. That is why they have lost respect for their elders. When we grew up, parents were very strict. You never reported back home when an elder person corrected you, because you would be beaten again,” added Ndlovu.
According Ndlovu, some children are coerced into early marriage as a result of abuse or exploitation by their guardians.
Leaving no one behind
In Zimbabwe, the Education Amendment Act of 2020 prohibit schools from excluding pregnant students and adolescent mothers, ensuring their right to education. While this legislation promotes gender equality and protects pregnant girls’ rights, teen pregnancies significantly impact teachers.
Witmos Muvengwa, a local school teacher, said teachers feel a sense of responsibility and concern for their pregnant students, which can be emotionally draining.
“Additionally, teachers face an increased workload, providing support such as extra help to pregnant students, and may need to adapt their lesson plans and classroom management,” said Witmos Muvengwa.
Most girls who fell pregnant dropped out of school to avoid embarrassment from fellow learners or even teachers themselves.
Muvengwa advised that empowering pregnant teens by offering moral and psychological support and also assisting them to start school projects that would generate income can be helpful as it encourages them to remain in school. He applauded the government for the policy that allows pregnant girls to continue with their education as it has brought relief to many pregnant girls.
Defeating the course of Justice
When contacted for comment, Ruth Bikwa, the director of Hopeville Zimbabwe, an organisation that works with vulnerable groups, including women and children, said they respond to cases of any form of child abuse.
“Recently, we received a case of teen pregnancy from the hospital. The girl was a victim of child marriage and had experienced domestic violence. We offered counselling and tried to help her realise that she was in an abusive marriage,” said Bikwa, “Unfortunately, the girl did not have a birth certificate, so the case became complicated since she claimed to be 21 years old.”
Teen mothers in child marriages face numerous challenges as they face limited decision making power and difficulty escaping the marriage due to societal pressure and family obligations. Bikwa said some families often conceal the issue, making it difficult to access information.
“Cases of teen pregnancies exist, but people benefit from marrying off these young girls. Currently, we are conducting a follow-up on children who are victims of teen pregnancies and child marriages in Nekabandama,” said Bikwa.
Nozipho, regrets of her early sexual engagement and would not want other girls to fall in the same trap.
“Education about sexual health issues is beneficial. Girls often think they’re ready for sexual relationships. It’s advisable to get some contraception to avoid pregnancy. However, the best choice is to abstain from sex altogether,” said Nozipho.
