Chiefs renew Not In My Village drive amid rise in teen pregnancies

Chiefs renew Not In My Village drive amid rise in teen pregnancies

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Traditional leaders from across Zimbabwe have pledged to step up community action against adolescent pregnancies, child marriages and other harmful practices, amid growing concern over a sharp rise in teenage pregnancy that health experts say is undermining girls’ education and long-term prospects.

The commitments were made during a two-day High-Level Chiefs Indaba held in Gweru, organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the National AIDS Council and the Young People’s Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS.

The meeting assessed progress under the “Not In My Village” campaign and discussed measures to strengthen community-led responses to adolescent pregnancies.

Figures cited at the Indaba show a worsening trend. The National Assessment of Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe reported that adolescent pregnancy prevalence rose from 9 percent in 2016 to 22 percent in 2023. The assessment also recorded more than 358,000 pregnancies among girls aged 10 to 19 through antenatal care bookings between 2019 and 2022.

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UNICEF research referenced during the discussions indicates that more than one in five girls in Zimbabwe gives birth before turning 19, with adolescent pregnancy contributing to school drop-outs, poverty and poor health outcomes. The same research shows that one quarter of maternal deaths occur among adolescents and young women under 24.

Speakers at the Indaba said traditional leaders have a key role in influencing social norms and cultural practices linked to early pregnancy and child marriage, particularly in rural communities. UNFPA said the gathering was meant to strengthen community accountability and reinforce the role of chiefs in protecting girls’ rights, health and futures.

UNFPA Deputy Representative Mr Aboubakar Cisse commended chiefs for their involvement in addressing adolescent pregnancies, child marriages and gender-based violence. He noted that traditional leaders are “uniquely positioned to drive social and behavioural change”, and praised their role in championing the Not In My Village campaign.

The Indaba also examined underlying drivers of adolescent pregnancies, including poverty, child marriage, gender inequality, sexual violence and harmful social norms, alongside limited access to information and weak protection systems.

Child marriage was highlighted as a continuing concern. UNICEF data cited in the report shows that more than 20 percent of girls aged 15 to 19 are married or in a union, with higher rates in rural areas, and poorer households disproportionately affected.

Participants said prevention should be prioritised, stressing that laws and policies often depend on enforcement and action at community level. Chiefs pledged to strengthen community surveillance and accountability systems, promote school retention and re-enrolment for girls, encourage greater parental involvement, and act against practices that place girls at risk.

They also committed to closer collaboration with health workers, schools, law enforcement agencies, faith leaders and young people to improve access to information, protection and essential services for adolescents.

The discussions took place soon after the launch of Zimbabwe’s National Multi-Sectoral Framework for the Prevention and Management of Adolescent Pregnancies, which aims to coordinate action across Government ministries, communities, development partners and civil society.

At that launch, UNFPA Country Representative Ms Miranda Tabifor described adolescent pregnancy as one of Zimbabwe’s most pressing development challenges, saying the issue represented “interrupted dreams” for thousands of girls.

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