Mangaliso Kabulika
ADVOCACY group, Young Women of Africa, says women bear the biggest brunt as they have been left trying to survive through childhood marriages and prostitution under the yoke of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Speaking at an anti-sanctions march in Harare yesterday, Young Women of Africa member, Mildred Chirumiko, said the sanctions have caused immense hardships for women in the country.
“Women are the most affected by the sanctions, especially the girl child. They are turning to early childhood marriages as a last resort to escape poverty.
“Girls are also engaging in prostitution for survival and taking drugs and other substances to escape the burden of life.
“It’s even affecting their education due to economic hardships.
“Women are not bread winners, but they are the backbones of families.
“They find it hard to pay school fees for their children and to provide food due to economic hardships caused by the sanctions,” said Chirumiko.
A woman at the march, Tendai Matshaya, said women were the backbone of society and yet they bear the brunt of the illegal sanctions.
“We cannot allow our women and girls to suffer any longer.
“It is time for the international community to acknowledge the devastating impact sanctions have on our lives,” she said.