A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe
| dc.contributor.advisor | Ross, Fiona | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Morreira, Shannon | |
| dc.contributor.author | Muchemwa, Muchaneta | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-06-25T11:43:54Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-06-25T11:43:54Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2026-06-25T11:38:49Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis examines the practice of child marriages in sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific interest in Zimbabwe. The ‘vulnerable girl child' is at the centre stage as a subject of this practice. The literature suggests that diverse factors lead to child marriages. Still, the main driver continues to be the abuse of cultural and religious norms worsened by the inconsistency in domestic legislation and what feminists describe as ‘outright callous patriarchy.' In addition, poverty, climate catastrophe, environmental crises and unemployment have been contributory factors as parents and guardians marry off girl children for economic benefits that consolidate social relations and enable survival. Victims are often betrayed by those meant to protect them. In 2016, the Zimbabwean Constitutional Court upheld a landmark ruling in Mudzuru and Another v Minister of Justice and Another, establishing 18 years as the minimum age to enter into marriage in Zimbabwe. Put differently, child marriage was explicitly abolished because of its inconsistency with international human rights obligations and Zimbabwe's Constitution. This dissertation examines how key actors opposed to child marriages in the Zimbabwean context understand the causes and effects of child marriage on the child and her family's well-being. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Muchemwa, M. (2026). <i>A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43390 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Muchemwa, Muchaneta. <i>"A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2026. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43390 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Muchemwa, M. 2026. A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43390 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Muchemwa, Muchaneta AB - This thesis examines the practice of child marriages in sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific interest in Zimbabwe. The ‘vulnerable girl child' is at the centre stage as a subject of this practice. The literature suggests that diverse factors lead to child marriages. Still, the main driver continues to be the abuse of cultural and religious norms worsened by the inconsistency in domestic legislation and what feminists describe as ‘outright callous patriarchy.' In addition, poverty, climate catastrophe, environmental crises and unemployment have been contributory factors as parents and guardians marry off girl children for economic benefits that consolidate social relations and enable survival. Victims are often betrayed by those meant to protect them. In 2016, the Zimbabwean Constitutional Court upheld a landmark ruling in Mudzuru and Another v Minister of Justice and Another, establishing 18 years as the minimum age to enter into marriage in Zimbabwe. Put differently, child marriage was explicitly abolished because of its inconsistency with international human rights obligations and Zimbabwe's Constitution. This dissertation examines how key actors opposed to child marriages in the Zimbabwean context understand the causes and effects of child marriage on the child and her family's well-being. DA - 2026 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - child marriage KW - human rights KW - Constitutional KW - girl child KW - Zimbabwe LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2026 T1 - A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe TI - A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43390 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43390 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Muchemwa M. A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43390 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Sociology | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Humanities | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | child marriage | |
| dc.subject | human rights | |
| dc.subject | Constitutional | |
| dc.subject | girl child | |
| dc.subject | Zimbabwe | |
| dc.title | A culture of impunity? the conceptualisation of child marriages by different social actors in the new constitutional dispensation in Zimbabwe | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters |