Zimbabwe’s 2016 Ruling and the Battle to End Child Marriage

Laws changed in 2016, but child marriage still thrives in Zimbabwe—what's keeping girls trapped, and who’s driving real change?

When Girls Said No

Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi were teenagers when they took the Zimbabwean government to court in 2016. Forced into marriage as children, they challenged a system that had failed them and millions of others. Their victory—Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court ruling to outlaw child marriage—was not just a personal win. It sent shockwaves across Africa, proving that two voices could disrupt centuries-old traditions.

Child marriage strips girls of education, health, and economic opportunities. It fuels cycles of poverty, reinforcing gender inequality and weakening national progress. The laws banning child marriage exist in many African nations and are often ignored or undermined by cultural norms. Zimbabwe’s ruling was different because it showed what legal accountability could achieve when combined with activism.

But laws alone do not change mindsets. In many communities, child marriage persists, not out of malice but necessity—poverty, lack of education, and deep-seated traditions leave families with few choices. How does a legal ruling translate into real change? How do governments ensure that girls not only avoid early marriage but also thrive in safe, supportive environments?

Zimbabwe’s case sparked hope, but it also raised questions. Change requires more than courtrooms and. . .