Tinashe and when I got pregnant I did not even understand that I was pregnant. 14. Raising a child when you are a child yourself is excruciating and painful. If my current conditions remain as they are, I have no doubt I will probably have a breakdown and collapse. 15. If I were to be given a chance I would advise every young girl to stay away from men and only to seek to engage in sex well after the age of 28 years and perhaps after attainment of a degree and years of working. In short my life is hell. SECTIONC LEGAL STANDING 16. As a victim with two young children, and as a human right activist, I have a right to bring the instant application in terms of Section 85 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. The issues I raise below are in the public interest and therefore I bring this application in terms of Section 85 (1) (a) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. 17. The issue at hand is in respect of the marriage laws of Zimbabwe in so far as they apply to child marriages. The current law is that, in terms of sections 20 and 22 of the Marriage Act [Chapter 5: 11], a girl between the age of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) may with joined consent of a mother and father, and in the civil marriage. The marriage of a girl child below the age of sixteen (16) is proscribed by section 22 of the Act except with the written permission of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The position is different for boys: no boy 4