First Lady’s call centre 575 saves juvenile from early marriage…

Tendai Rupapa

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s 575 National Gender Based Violence Call Centre has helped in rescuing a Grade 7 girl in Nyanga who was married off in violation of the country’s laws.

President Mnangagwa recently signed into law the Criminal Laws Amendment (Protection of Children and Young Persons) Bill, raising the age of consent from 16 to 18 and protecting young people from sexual predators and early marriages.

The girl, who is pregnant, has since been taken to a safe location where she is receiving counselling, thanks to the mother of the nation who joined hands with the police and department of social welfare.

However, her parents and the parents of the alleged perpetrator are reportedly frustrating police efforts to bring the responsible person to book.

He is allegedly on the run.

The 575 toll-free line is in the office of the First Lady where dedicated agents answer the calls before directing them to the relevant department for assistance after carefully listening to the call and determining the nature of the problem.

The agent determines the nature of support required based on the caller’s need. When there is need for escalation, the agent will transfer the caller to the relevant service provider.

The helpline is a brainchild of Amai Mnangagwa, who has taken the bull by its horns and pledged to play a significant role in curbing domestic violence, child marriages and drug abuse.

She set up the call centre whereby victims will be swiftly connected to the police’s Victim Friendly Unit (VFU), social welfare or counselling services as appropriate.

National police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations into the case are underway.

He said the police were grateful to the First Lady’s efforts through the 575 GBV call centre and her awareness campaigns against child marriages in the country.

Police say the Office of the First Lady received a distress call through the National Gender Based Violence Call Centre’s toll-free number 575 to the effect that the juvenile was being sexually abused and forced into marriage.

The mother of the nation, who has a passion for the welfare of women and the girl child, swiftly dispatched a team to follow given locations and provide assistance.

“The team collaborated with the Police Victim Friendly Unit and Department of Social Welfare to rescue the victim who was found to be pregnant. The First Lady ensured the girl’s safety by relocating her to a secure location where she is now staying and receiving counselling.

“The police are looking for the suspect who is said to be hiding in Harare,” Comm Nyathi said.

He added that parents of the victim and the perpetrator are hiding information on the whereabouts of the suspect and in the process, defeating the course of justice.

“As the police, we assure the First Lady and the nation at large that the suspect will be arrested for the law to take its course,” he said.

Child marriages are still rampant in different communities and the practice is now spreading across Zimbabwe despite the presence of laws prohibiting them.

“Nevertheless, communities have also taken the First Lady’s awareness campaigns seriously. It is reassuring to see that communities across Zimbabwe are becoming more proactive in reporting cases of child abuse and gender-based violence within private spheres.

“It is proof that communities have embraced the spirit of Ubuntu/Hunhu which stipulates that it takes a village to raise a child. It is in the same vein that we should all take the lead and report any abuse through toll-free number 575,” the police said. Comm Nyathi commended the First Lady’s efforts in establishing the toll-free facility “which has gone a milestone in terms of resolving some of the domestic violence cases, rape cases, child abuse cases which were going on without being reported to authorities.

“We call upon the public to continue giving information through this toll-free facility so that the law can continue to take its course,” he said.

This is not the first time that Dr Mnangagwa has intervened in abuse and domestic violence cases.

She is always traversing the length and breadth of the country encouraging families to live in peace and harmony and shun gender based violence.

During the Covid-19 era, a wave of GBV cases were reported, with many teen girls being impregnated.

Amai Mnangagwa also regularly holds Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba sessions to promote good manners in children who she regularly advises to leave sexual relationships before they come of age and concentrate on their studies.

Dr Mnangagwa routinely meets teen mothers to assist them with their needs as they share with their peers the effects of rushing into sexual relationships.

She also affords them a chance of going back to school.

Amai Mnangagwa also engages parents through her Nharire yemusha programme where she educates them on the dangers of marrying off minors. – Herald