! (;\ CONCLUSION 62. I respectfully contend that it is a huge responsibility for a young girl to become a mother and a wife. This is a burden that impacts on the psychological welfare of the children and their offspring. 63. I also maintain that child marriage also has implications for the social development of child's rights in terms of low levels of education, poor health and personal autonomy. A lack of education means that young wives lack knowledge about sexual relations, their bodies and reproduction, an issue exacerbated by the cultural silence surrounding the same. This clearly denies the girl child the ability to make and form decisions about sexual relations, planning a family, and her health. Further, as already indicated above, early marriage results in a likely low level of education and life skills increased vulnerability to abuse and poor health and therefore deepened poverty. 64. Under the circumstances I pray that this Honourable Court should as a question of law hold that and issue a declarator that the minimum age of marriage in Zimbabwe for all types of marriage is 18 years. A fortiori, Section 22(1) of the Marriage Act is unconstitutional. I therefore pray for an order in terms of the draft. THUS SWORN AT HARARE THIS DAY OF OCTOBER 2014. Before me:- COMMISSIONER OF OATHS NYASHI\ MUNETS! LEGA.L Pf~,\CTITJONCR COMMISSIONf=.F\ (){fHS 17