To curb teenage pregnancies and drug abuse in Tsholotsho, a young woman, Alice Moyo, has founded Amagugu Esizwe, a community-based initiative aimed at instilling cultural values in young girls and boys.
According to the Zimbabwe Health Survey, 21 384 teenage girls became pregnant in Matabeleland North Province between January 2023 and March 2025.
At district level, Umguza recorded the highest number with 8 468 cases, followed by Binga (2 798), Lupane (2 489), Hwange (2,487), Nkayi (2 132), Tsholotsho (2 041), and Bubi (929).
Surveys indicate that teenage pregnancies and child marriages in the province are driven by a combination of poverty, cultural and religious beliefs, entrenched gender norms, and limited access to essential services and information.
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Moyo said she was motivated to act, working with community leaders, after noticing the community was “losing young generations” to teenage pregnancies, drug abuse, and crime.
“The group is for virgin girls and young boys and it’s called Amagugu Esizwe. I asked the community members for permission to do this program in Ntulula. I asked even the chiefs, the school and even the village heads and the community at large. They welcomed this program after recognition that we are losing the young generation due to teenage pregnancies, different diseases, crime and drug abuse,” she said.
She said the initiative seeks to bring about change by “reviving our cultural values as a community.”
Moyo, who conducts lessons with villagers on weekends, said the programme encourages education and positive life choices.
“What is saddening is that there are high teenage pregnancies and you find these young girls being impregnated by people based in South Africa, who have their own families. Young girls are losing their virginity without even knowing what they are doing,” she said.
Although Amagugu Esizwe was only established this year, Moyo hopes to expand its activities to include vocational training. She said the initiative is currently struggling with resources and materials to support such programmes.
“The vision of this group is to see young girls and boys growing up with respect, able to do projects and succeeding in their education,” she said.
Moyo added that she is already engaging traditional leaders in nearby areas such as Sasedza, Tshithatshwana, and Sandawana, with the aim of extending the programme to those communities.
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