Developing a Community Centred-Framework for Eliminating Child Marriages in Rural Zimbabwe. A Case of Bocha Marange

Child marriage is a significant barrier to gender equality and development in Africa, profoundly impacting girls' sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This study investigates the persistent prevalence of child marriages in the Bocha area of Marange, Zimbabwe, a region significantly influenced by the Johane Marange Apostolic Church. Utilizing a qualitative research approach guided by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 participants to explore the lived experiences of women and girls. The findings reveal that child marriage is driven by a complex interplay of socio-religious factors, including pervasive poverty and hunger, the economic influence of artisanal miners, a widespread lack of education and awareness, and the church's doctrine which sanctifies early marriage, polygamy, and rejects medical intervention. The research further determined that existing interventions including education policies, legal frameworks, and NGO-led empowerment programmes have been largely ineffective due to poor implementation, a lack of sustainability, and the significant socio-political influence of the church which shields perpetrators. In response, this study proposes the Integrative Bocha Referral Pathway Model, a comprehensive, community-centred solution that emphasizes food security, holistic inclusion of men and boys, community-wide sensitization, and a liberal, collaborative engagement with the church leadership. The study concludes that eradicating child marriage in this context requires a multifaceted, sustainable model that addresses the root causes and empowers the entire community, rather than focusing solely on the girl child.

Child Marriage, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Johane Marange Apostolic Church

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