MUTARE — A farming community about 52 kilometres east of Mutare is facing a child-protection crisis after reports that schoolgirls are being lured into sexual relationships with adult men for as little as US$1.
Residents say the phrase “dollar for two” has become common in parts of Burma Valley. It refers to the small amount allegedly handed to girls in exchange for sexual encounters, exposing how poverty and unequal power relationships are being used to draw children into abuse.
The reports include claims involving girls from primary and secondary schools in the area. Children attending Valhala, Musapa and Kaswa primary schools, as well as Mazonwe Secondary School, are said to be among those facing the danger. Similar concerns have emerged in neighbouring Chigodora, where learners at Gombakomba Primary and Gombakomba Secondary schools are also reportedly at risk.
Community members say the consequences are already visible. School dropouts, teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections are becoming increasingly common, while some girls are spending school hours at the homes of older men after leaving their families under the pretence that they are going to class.
A farm worker, Ms Miriam Khumalo, said adults were deliberately taking advantage of girls who had little money and limited protection.
“Sexual abuse of schoolgirls is rampant. Some perpetrators use money, sometimes as little as US$1, to entice young girls. In fact, they call it ‘dollar for two’. Some girls leave home claiming they are going to school, but instead spend the day at the homes of these men. It is a tragic situation because the future of these girls is being destroyed through early sexual activity, unwanted pregnancies and school dropouts,” she said.
The allegations have also raised concern about the conditions in which many children are growing up. Families living in farming compounds often share small spaces, while parents work long hours in the fields and children move between households where supervision can be limited.
Local farmer Mrs Lucia Mbetsa said the problem was closely linked to the living arrangements and family circumstances inside the compounds.
“The cases of sexual abuse here are very serious. It starts with the living arrangements. In many cases, the father, mother and children share a single room. By the time a child reaches Grade Five or Six, she may already have been exposed to things beyond her age. Another common challenge is when a mother leaves a child in the care of a boyfriend. Tragedy often strikes when the child is left alone with someone who is not a biological parent,” she said.
Mrs Mbetsa said the community was also seeing more cases in which young girls entered relationships with men much older than them.
“It is heart-breaking to see children as young as 12 cohabiting with adults. I would not even call it marriage because there are no formal processes involved. These are children being abused by adults, and such arrangements rarely last,” she said.
A local nurse, who asked not to be named, said health workers were recording a rise in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections in the area.
“We are seeing an increase in STIs and teenage pregnancies in Burma Valley. Sadly, some of the affected individuals are school-going minors,” said the nurse.
The situation in Burma Valley reflects a wider challenge facing Zimbabwe. A national assessment on adolescent pregnancies found that adolescents aged between 10 and 19 accounted for 21 per cent of antenatal-care bookings recorded at 1,560 health facilities between 2019 and 2022. That represented 358,458 pregnant adolescents from an estimated 1,706,946 bookings.
The assessment also recorded 1,532 maternal deaths during the same period. About a quarter involved adolescents and young women under the age of 24. National teenage-pregnancy prevalence rose to 22 per cent in 2023, compared with nine per cent in 2016.
Child marriage remains another major concern. Recent child-protection figures put the proportion of girls marrying before the age of 18 at more than one in five, while wider national assessments have recorded an even higher rate. The figures have kept pressure on authorities and community leaders to prevent children from being pushed out of school and into adult relationships.
In February, child-protection organisations warned that violence against children in Zimbabwe was becoming more brutal and increasingly involving people known to victims, including caregivers, relatives, community figures and other trusted adults. The concerns included sexual violations, abductions, beatings and other forms of violence.
Rural communities face particular difficulties because social welfare and health services are often spread over long distances. UNICEF has identified poverty, harmful social norms, climate-related shocks and limited service capacity as major pressures on child-protection systems, especially in rural and humanitarian settings. Shortages of trained social workers, weak reporting systems and limited investment in social welfare can make it harder for children to obtain help quickly.
In farming compounds, economic dependence can make the situation more difficult. Families may fear losing income, accommodation or access to work if they report a person with influence. Community workers say fear, stigma, intimidation and attempts to settle cases privately continue to prevent many children from being heard.
Ms Patience Kaerezi, programmes officer for Shamwari YeMwanasika, described the reports from Burma Valley as a serious child-protection concern requiring action by several institutions at the same time.
“Farming communities face unique vulnerabilities because children live in compounds where many families reside in close proximity, while parents spend long hours at work. Economic dependency can also discourage families from reporting abuse, especially where the alleged perpetrator has financial influence within the community,” she said.
Ms Kaerezi said the number of cases reported to authorities should not be treated as the full size of the problem.
“It is important not to assume that reported cases reflect the full extent of the problem. We need stronger safeguarding systems, confidential reporting mechanisms and closer collaboration among police, schools, health institutions, social welfare departments, traditional leaders, farm management and civil society organisations. Children must be protected, listened to and connected to appropriate support and justice services,” she said.
Legislator and chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Women Affairs, Community and SME Development, Honourable Getrude Mutandi, said the silence surrounding abuse had to end.
“It is disturbing that many cases of sexual abuse are swept under the carpet in the name of family honour, religion or social considerations. This culture of silence must end. We must protect the girl child and ensure she reaches her full potential. Perpetrators of child sexual abuse belong behind bars, and we will continue pushing for stronger action against offenders,” she said.
The Government has backed community efforts aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies and child marriages. A campaign supported by UNFPA has helped 26 traditional leaders from seven districts develop local by-laws setting out actions for families and communities. The measures are intended to keep girls in school, improve awareness and strengthen local responsibility for protecting children.
Education officials say prevention must begin in schools and extend to families, workplaces and communities. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s Director for Communications and Advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said the response required cooperation across government.
“This is a collective responsibility, with Local Government playing a key role. Our mandate is to educate learners about the dangers associated with early sexual activity and empower them to make informed decisions,” he said.
Police also urged adults to report suspected abuse instead of trying to resolve cases informally. Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka said children in farming compounds deserved the same protection as every other child in the province.
“We strongly condemn all harmful practices targeting children, particularly girls. Children living in farming compounds deserve the same protection and opportunities as any other child in the province. The responsibility for safeguarding children does not rest with parents alone. It is a collective duty involving guardians, farm owners, employers, teachers, churches, traditional leaders, social services and law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged adults to create safe environments and report suspected abuse immediately.
“Adults must respect children’s boundaries, avoid situations that place minors at risk and report alleged abuse rather than attempting to resolve such cases informally. Children should never be blamed for sexual abuse, and schools must remain vigilant because teachers are often among the first trusted adults to whom victims disclose their experiences,” he said.
For Burma Valley’s schoolgirls, the warning is stark: a dollar offered by an adult can mark the beginning of a pregnancy, an infection, lost schooling and years of trauma. Residents now want farm owners, schools, health workers, police, traditional leaders and parents to act together before more children are drawn into the “dollar for two” trap.