Speaking at World Children’s Day commemorations hosted by
Unicef in Harare yesterday, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga said stiffer
penalties, which include arresting parents of the victims, were underway.
“The government is deeply concerned over the number of
children under 10 who are getting pregnant. Stiffer penalties will be
introduced and will have to be done. Not only is the perpetrator going to be
arrested, but also the parents. Children have to be protected because they are
the future,” Chiwenga, who doubles up as Health and Child Care minister, said.
A nine-year-old girl from Masekesa village in Tsholotsho
recently gave birth to a baby boy after having been allegedly raped by a close
relative.
Another nine-year-old girl from Bindura is reported to be
six months pregnant after being raped by two 17-year-old brothers.
Zimbabwe has been home to child marriages and early
pregnancies for some time with authorities saying more than a third of girls
are married off before the age of 18, and some before they turn 15. Some of the
children have died while giving birth.
Chiwenga said: “Parents have a big role to look after their
children and they should have time with their children. As a government we are
going to make sure that the ills that are affecting children are brought to an
end.
“There is no issue of peer pressure or consent up until one
turns 18. I would like to assure you that we are ramping up programmes to
ensure that the victims are rehabilitated. It is now imperative that the
perpetrators are dealt with in terms of the laws.”
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul
Mavima said government was in the process of enacting laws that protect the
rights of children.
“We are in the process of enacting the Child Justice Bill,
the Education Act, the Public Health Act to reinforce our commitment to child
rights as well as the welfare of our children,” Mavima said.
“In order to reinforce these laws, the government of
Zimbabwe has developed policies and programmes which include the national
action plan for orphans and other vulnerable children. We are in the process of
finalising the third generation of that action plan. Currently this action plan
is under review and we will launch it on the 25th of this month after the
review is complete.”
United Nations resident co-ordinator Edward Kallon said
they were disturbed by the increasing media reports of child and adolescent
pregnancies.
“Children should not give birth to children,” Kallon said.
“The rights of children must be protected for them to
remain in school, grow free of any form of exploitation and abuse. When a girl
becomes pregnant, her education may end; her prospects diminish and become more
vulnerable to poverty and exclusion. Complications from pregnancy and
childbirth are the leading cause of death among adolescent girls.”
Kallon also said there was an urgent need for the
enforcement of laws to protect children’s rights. Unicef country representative
Tajudeen Oyewale said government should also protect the rights of children
with disabilities.
“Children with disabilities are rights holders to the same
extent as any other children. States and communities must be inclusive, ensure
access to social services is adapted for all its citizens, including their
children with disabilities, and if needed through specialised services,”
Oyewale said.
In Parliament yesterday, Mhangura legislator Precious
Chinhamo-Masango also raised concern over young girls who are being sexually
abused and the perpetrators never arrested.
“Children’s rights are being violated left, right and
centre and perpetrators are walking scot free. Children have rights that must
also be respected. In Zimbabwe it’s a sad story whereby rights of children are
not even respected. Recently a nine-year-old got impregnated, this is just a tip
of the iceberg because there are more cases,” she said. Newsday
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