By Cheriel Dzobo| A local community based organisation in Chipinge, the Platform for Youth and Community Development (PYCD) has intervened on a case of forced marriage involving a 14 year old girl who had been married off to a 17 year old herd boy lover.

According to PYCD, on the 1st of January 2020, the girl in question (name withheld) was waylaid into being cosy by her 17 year old boyfriend who is working as a herd boy in Vheneka village of ward 27 in Chipinge South constituency.

The two ran out of luck when the father of the teenager girl got wind of the relationship and took a drastic action, turning their merry- making into a nightmare when the father of the girl ,a Mr Chauke sent her daughter packing to the Matikiti family to force a marriage of the two.

What makes the case a serious concern for PYCD, are the circumstances around it.

“The 17 year old boy works as a herd boy at Matikiti family in Vheneka while the girl is a school dropout who is supposed to be in form 2 at Vheneka Sec School. They are minors unable to start a responsible family,” said PYCD in a statement.

After getting wind of the matter, PYCD intervened and engaged both concerned parents including the minors involved.

“The matter which had to involve the police at Chisumbanje to calm emotions is now firmly in the hands of the organisation who are offering counselling services,” noted PYCD.