By Admore Mbonda in Matabeleland South
As the early rains soften the soils of Matabeleland South, traditional leaders say a different kind of pressure is hardening—one that threatens the safety and future of rural girls.
December, once a month of homecomings, ceremonies, and celebration, has increasingly become a period of concern for chiefs, kraal heads and village heads.
Community elders say they now find themselves dealing with cases of exploitation involving young girls and cross-border migrant workers returning from South Africa, commonly known as injiva.
Instead of attending to land disputes or settling family matters, many leaders say their homesteads now double as informal counselling centres.
“The Consequences Are Devastating”
In Mtsuli Village, Matopo District, Kraal Head Cosmas Moyo says the change has been distressing.
“During this time, our clinics see a sharp increase in cases, especially among girls who should be in school,” he said.
“The omalaitsha arrive with smartphones, new clothes and money. For a young girl from a poor family, that lure is powerful—but the consequences are devastating for their health and their future.”
For Moyo, the crisis is personal. He recalls girls he once saw herding goats or walking to school—now lost to early pregnancies, school dropout, or illness.
A Region-Wide Pattern
Across Bulilima, Mangwe and Matobo districts, traditional leaders report the same trend. December returnees often come home with cash and a lifestyle that dazzles rural teenagers. Poverty amplifies the temptation; a desire for opportunity makes the risk feel worth taking.
A local youth advocate said the glamour associated with South Africa often hides harsh realities.
“The promise of Mzansi is a powerful manipulation tool,” the advocate said.
“These men offer a glimpse of a world these girls dream of, but it’s an illusion. The outcome is a shattered education, compromised health, and a future that slips out of their control.”
Cultural Safeguards Under Strain
Elders say community structures that once protected young people have weakened under economic pressure and global influences. Smartphones, social media, and limited supervision have widened the exposure of rural girls to new risks.
Clinics face condom shortages, unregulated all-night tournaments continue unchecked, and many villages lack structured youth activities—conditions that traditional leaders say leave young girls vulnerable.
Leaders Shift Their Role
Forced to adapt, some chiefs and kraal heads are now holding community awareness meetings, accompanying young girls to clinics, and working more closely with health workers and youth organisations.
Conversations about sexual health—once taboo—are now becoming part of village dialogue.
Still, elders believe they cannot cope alone.
“We can guide them,” Moyo said. “But the world has changed. We need everyone to help us protect these children before more futures are lost.”
National Response: ‘Not In My Village’
Recognising the influence traditional leadership has in rural communities, Zimbabwe launched the Not In My Village campaign to combat teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence.
The National AIDS Council (NAC) has also intensified its engagement with chiefs and kraal heads.
“We have engaged the traditional leadership with the Not In My Village campaign, where we are campaigning against all forms of gender-based violence in our communities,” said Mngcini Sibanda, NAC Matabeleland South Provincial Manager.
“We have activated community structures, including community-based cadres who are working in different spaces to raise awareness and protect our girls.”
As the festive season approaches, traditional leaders say urgent collaboration is needed—between families, health authorities, civil society, and community structures—to safeguard the region’s children from harm.
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