And our MobStar of the year 2016 is….

2016 was a dramatic year on many levels and choosing a MobStar was always going to be difficult.

It was a year of great turbulence across the world and Zimbabwe was not spared.

Some of the big newsmakers in Zimbabwe included

Pastor Evan Mawarire’s #ThisFlag movement
Morgan Tsvangirai’s announcement that he had cancer. Super important because he departed from the political norm which never admits it being unwell
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’;s John Mangudya and the introduction of the bond notes
Jah Prayzah’s collaboration with Diamond Platnumz and subsequent win at the MTV Africa Music Awards
Prof Jonathan Moyo and the Robin Hood episode
Acie Lumumba’s fight with Patrick Zhuwao, the sex tape, the exit from Zanu-Pf and when f-bombed Robert Mugabe
Carl Joshua Ncube’s world record bid
The Mighty Warriors debut at the Beijing Olympics

All pretty intense and each with a claim to being the stars of the year in their own rights as movers and shakers.

And yet for us, it was the momentous occasion when our Constitutional Court passed down a decision which said no person under the age of 18 would ever be married off. It specifically outlawed child marriage and said all laws around it should be amended.

So our mobstar this year is a collective. First of all, former child brides Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi represented by the Tendai Biti law firm who took the case to court to ensure that no other minor would go through what they did. Supporting them were pressure groups such as Plan International (special mention for Mary Taedzerwa who went on to get recognition from the MTV Africa Music Awards 2016) who made sure pressure was maintained in securing the rights of children. The difference it makes that the law says, a child must not be so exploited is immense.

And too for the Constitutional Court, making a decision that retained our belief that the legal system works, not only in this case but a few other rulings throughout the year.