Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru- In a move aimed at curbing rampant cases of child abuse, government has put in place plans to introduce the Child Justice Bill to protect children.
The bill seeks to incorporate protection laws including provisions forbidding vendors and beggars from taking minor children to vending sites and begging ventures.
According to findings obtained by ZimFact reported on March 19, 2023, under the current legislation, it is already illegal for adults to be accompanied by children to their vending or begging work, or to use or exhibit them during public entertainment shows in a manner ‘detrimental’ to their general welfare.
Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s Social welfare officer Susan Ngani in an interview last week highlighted that government was working on the new Child Justice Bill to strengthen the existing Children’s Act.
“As part the protection of minors, the ministry is working on establishing a day-care facility in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) where vendors and working parents could leave their children under the care of skilled social welfare workers.
“This initiative was long overdue as many other countries had such day-care centres for children,” said Ngani.
The Children’s Act, Chapter 5:06 stipulates that any parent or guardian of a child or young person who allows that child or young person, or any person who causes any child or young person to (a) beg; or (b) to accompany him or any other person while he begs; or (c) to induce or endeavour to induce the giving of alms; or (d) to perform or be exhibited in any for public entertainment in a manner likely to be detrimental to the child’s or young person’s health, morals, mind or body; shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine or to imprisonment.
Findings from social welfare further reveals that, children who grow up on the streets get mentally damaged and need legal and social protection from an environment that exposes them to witnessing or suffering psychological, verbal, and physical and other forms of abuse.
