By Rev Father Isiah Dhliwayo
ABSTRACT :
The corona virus disease of 2019 commonly known as COVID-19 affected the social, economic, political and even religious life of all people across the world in various ways and Zimbabwe was not spared in all this.
Lives were lost, families were affected by the loss of young ones to the pandemic, some companies were forced to close down, people were retrenched and political wise, by elections to replace MPs who died or were recalled could not be held as crowds had and still have the potential to be super spreader agents of the deadly scourge.
The Covid 19 pandemic and lockdown haven't been very kind to our school pupils' population especially, the girl child across the globe and our Chipinge Districtd communities were not spared too.
The global lockdown of educational institutions in Zimbabwe has caused a major and likely unequal interruption in students life cycle of education.
In the write up below, a thoroughly analysis from a humanistic, pragmatic, philosophical and psychological perspective will be made with special emphasis and taking into cognizance to how the lockdown restrictions affected the girl child in rural Zimbabwe and the way forward.
There was a noticeable rise in early marriages due to the fact that most girls in rural Zimbabwe were lying idle with no other meaningful activity to do as compared to their urban counterparts who were going for extra lessons, online lessons or part time jobs.
These early marriages destroyed the rural girls future as getting married at an early age has its own fair share of both short and long term effects which include but are not limited to promiscuity.
Unwanted pregnancies were also noticed. It is common knowledge that due to lack of exposure in the rural areas, it is very easy to entice girls with small things such as drinks, biscuits and others.
As a result of this, the girls ended up falling pregnant despite the fact that they would neither have planned nor expected to fall pregnant.
A decline in positive Christian living has also influenced the low rate of response by Christians to assist the girl child as she laments in our rural communities bearing the unplanned and early pregnancies dilemma.
The effects of lockdown restrictions in the life cycle of most rural girls in our communities leaves in it's path heartache, loneliness and a feeling of personal failure.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases or illnesses were another effect.
Most of these girls ended up catching such diseases as a result of engaging in sexual activities.
Too much domestic chores and even field work (kumunda) from parents or guardians resulted in girls’ appetite for studying being eroded and destroyed as they would work from dusk to dawn with no time to study in between.
The long term effect of this is that it ultimately destroys these girls’ appetite for books and studying.
Due to the shambolic state of the economy, some of these girls were sent to mines (kumakorokoza) where they were exposed to all forms of abuse including sexual abuse.
Some became serious commercial sex workers thereby destroying their lives in the process.
Some even crossed the boarders for greener pastures in neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique where they could end up being abused in various ways.
Some ended up as victims of human trafficking.
Disease outbreaks enhance the responsibilities of girls and young women in caring for old and unwell family members, as well as out-of-school siblings.
Due to the outbreak's financial strain on families, children, particularly girls, are more vulnerable to exploitation, child labor and gender-based abuse.
During the outbreak, economic challenges pose a serious threat to young women's employment and business activities, exposing them to an increased risk of exploitation and abuse. Girls and young women who are experiencing severe economic hardships are more likely to take on high-risk jobs in order to survive.
Depression leading to some cases of stress and suicide.
Lack of discipline at home and at school.
Low or no focus towards the attainment of educational goals that is both academic and non academic.
Way forward
Gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection must be included in COVID-19 response and recovery plans, and plans must be gender and age responsive as well as multi-sectoral.
Support for impacted households should be provided in addition to quarantine procedures.
Plan creation should include girl and youth-led groups in a safe and relevant way, and plans should analyze and monitor the risk and prevalence of violence.
Support for impacted households should be provided in addition to quarantine procedures.
Responses to the pandemic must safeguard and promote economic empowerment for young women, while also acknowledging the added load of unpaid and domestic work on women and girls.
Plan International is attempting to raise €100 million in order to safeguard some of the world's most vulnerable children including rural girls and their communities from the effects of COVID-19."In 2019-20, we spent €910 million on our programmes and the operations that make that work possible" (plan - international- org) https://plan-international.org/emergencies/covid-19-faqs-girls
The overall aim of Plan is focused on helping children particularly girls especially the rural ones who have been disproportionately affected by the crisis.
Community engagement by civic organizations through collaborating with communities and traditional and religious leaders to adapt traditional practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as training people who will be responsible for caring for vulnerable children in the event of an outbreak.
NGOs such as PLAN INTERNATIONAL and World Food Plan are assisting families who have lost their income with cash transfers to guarantee that basic requirements are covered during the lockdown.
This will reduce the risk and chances of rural children engaging in hunger or poverty induced risky activities such as premarital se and prostitution in order to get food.
"The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is disrupting the world as we knew it, with a heavy toll on human lives and economic activities. Its rapid global spread is threatening to affect millions of people already made vulnerable by food insecurity, malnutrition and the effects of conflict and other disasters". ( www. wfp. org).
Churches and NGOs are providing food assistance in areas when food is unaffordable or inaccessible.
Use of several channels (TV, internet, radio, posters, etc.) to raise awareness of the crisis and the child safety dangers of lockdown, including sexual and gender-based violence, as well as offering targeted support to vulnerable homes.
Non-formal avenues for females who drop school to acquire both hands on as well academic skills and certificates should be provided by the government.
Counselling and psycho - social support services to families in remote areas with children at risk of school dropout or early marriage has been conducted by community - based child protection boards with support from Plan International.
Release of funds by government to be used for social protection
Strengthening systems and mechanisms for detecting and preventing Gender Based Violence and child abuse that has a negative psychological effect on the rural girl child.
Expanding food assistance programmes so that they can reach everyone.
organizing vulnerable and marginalized groups so that they can claim their socio-economic rights by engaging authorities and in some cases through public interest litigation monitoring and reporting violations of socio-economic rights during the period of lockdowns and thereafter.
Investment in rural women and girls is one good way of attaining food security and empowering women and girls as they move from subsistence agriculture to becoming more active participants in the economy.
THE END. Written: by Fr Isiah Dhliwayo: +263773426115 : Emai Address: itdhliwayo@gmail.com.
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