Zimbabwean girl uses taekwondo to fight ills of early marriage

Gulf Today Report

In Zimbabwe girls as young as 10 are pushed into marriage due to poverty or traditional practices.

Natsiraishe Maritsa, 17, is a martial arts enthusiast. She has been a fan of the art since she was 5 and is currently using taekwondo to rally young girls and mothers to join hands and fight child marriage.

“Not many people do taekwondo here, so it’s fascinating for the girls, both married and single. I use it to get their attention,” said the 17-year old.

Natsiraishe Maritsa inside her room in the Epworth settlement. AP

Children from the age of four to teenagers that are now married, gather around Maritsa’s parents’ home in Epworth settlement, about 15 kilometres away from Harare.

The group follows her instructions and after class they talk about the dangers of child marriage. The married girls take the lead.

The married girls share their experiences including verbal and physical abuse, marital rape, pregnancy-related health complications and being hungry.

Maritsa described the taekwondo ground as a safe space for the girls.

Young boys and girls go through taekwondo kicking drills. AP

“We are not ready for this thing called marriage, we are just too young for it,” she said.

"The role of teen mothers is usually ignored when people campaign against child marriages. Here, I use their voices, their challenges, to discourage those young girls not yet married to stay off early sexual activity and marriage,” said Maritsa.

According to Zimbabwean law, neither boys nor girls are allowed to legally marry until the age of 18.

However, child marriage practice is still widespread due to the economical struggle. About 30% of girls are married off before they turn 18, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Some of Natsiraishe Maritsa's taekwondo medals. AP 

For some poor families, marrying off a daughter is the ticket to a better life, the bride price paid by the husband serves as a “means of survival,” according to Girls Not Brides organisation.

Some religious sects marry off young girls for “spiritual guidance” while others force girls that have been engaged in a pre-marital relationship into marriage to avoid “shame,” according to the organisation.

Maritsa runs an association called Vulnerable Underaged People’s Auditorium. It hopes to create awareness concerning the dangers of early marriage.

Inside the neatly decorated small house adorned with Maritsa’s medals and pictures, her parents prepare fruit juice and some cookies for the girls -- their sacrifice to help their daughter’s efforts.

 Although resources are limited, Maritsa is committed to helping other girls.

COVID-19 imposed restrictions has forced children to stay in school and increased the rate of poverty. That could lead to an increase in early marriage, warn women’s groups.