The abuse of female children of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church in Masvingo District, Zimbabwe – Assessing the perspectives of selected Social Service Practitioners

Abstract

Religious organisations are known for providing solace to those going through various psycho-social and spiritual challenges. However, the experiences of female children fellowshipping in the Johanne Marange church continue to be characterized by abuse and subjugation. The article, using a qualitative approach with exploratory and descriptive designs, explored perceptions of 20 purposively selected participants, comprising social workers, counsellors, welfare officers, psychologists, and sociologists, who worked and living in the Masvingo district, regarding the abuses imposed on female children in the Johanne Marange Apostolic sect. The study adopted a thematic analysis that facilitated the identification of factors that contribute to child abuse, such as cultural practices, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, and harmful religious practices. The study recommends strict law enforcement, safe person training, hiring social workers to assist in advocacy and pragmatic interventions to combat abuse of female children, and instituting scholarships for females in apostolic sects. The study shares critical findings on the impact of religious practices, especially on the welfare and livelihoods of female children. Subsequently, it contributes to ongoing discourses on finding lasting solutions to address factors that hinder the achievement ofSDG 5 on gender equality in education and other spheres of life. The study also calls to action all likeminded organisations and practitioners to design strategies to curb the oppression of female children that continues to happen due to religion and culture.