Press Release by NANGO on the occasion of the Day of the African Child 2022.

Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013’.

Harare – The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) joins the rest of the African continent in commemorating the Day of the African Child (DAC). The commemoration of the DAC is mainly to recall the 1976 uprisings in Soweto, South Africa when high-school students started protesting against apartheid-inspired education which resulted in the public killing of these unarmed young protesters by police officials. Thus, as we commemorate this day, we are indeed celebrating the progress that Africa has made since the celebration of the DAC in 2013.

This year sees the celebration of the DAC under the theme, “Eliminating harmful practices affecting children progress on Policy & Practices since 2013”. The theme resonates well with the work and mandate of NANGO whose focus is to promote, co-ordinate and organise, where necessary, the participation and contributions of NGOs in Zimbabwe in the social, economic, and political development of the Zimbabwean people. The association, therefore, focuses on creating platforms where Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the community can be actively involved in policy formulation and lobby and advocate for the successful implementation of these policies to achieve the ZIMBABWEAN WE WANT. In this regard, the commemorations aim to re-evaluate the approaches, policies, programs, and legislation that have been adopted to end harmful practices by the African Union Member States since the celebration of DAC 2013. Further, the commemoration also provides an occasion for Governments, NGOs, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders to renew their ongoing engagements towards the protection and assistance of children affected by harmful practices.

NANGO recognises the numerous policies that have been developed by the continent in a bid to deal with harmful practices affecting children at both country and continental levels. Of note are the Agenda 2030, Agenda 2040, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACRWC), Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (target 5.3) and Section 81 of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Children’s Act, Child Protection Policy among other policies, instruments, and regulations. In light of this, NANGO calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to continue adopting and promulgating policies and measures that ensure that every child is protected from violence, abuse or torture and be protected from harmful cultural practices, exploitation and all forms of abuse.

Also, the association recognises the devastating effects the covid-19 pandemic has had on the gains the children’s sector had made in terms of advancing children’s protection in Zimbabwe and Africa at large. The pandemic increased the number of school dropouts, especially in rural areas, child marriages, increased inequalities, reduced access to health services and products, and gender-based violence due to covid-19 induced lockdowns and regulations. The pandemic coupled with natural disasters and harsh economic conditions has also affected resulted in increased high inflation rates which directly impacts children’s access to basic human needs and wants such as food, shelter, quality education among other things. With the country rallying for the upcoming elections in 2023, the political environment is more prone to political violence and civil unrest and hence we reiterate the need to maintain peace and security towards this period and continue respecting basic human rights for children.

NANGO applauds the efforts that CSOs have made so far in a bid to address the many challenges affecting children across the country. To note, the recent review of the age of consent from 16 to 18 years is clearly a move in the right direction illegal child marriages. We, therefore, commend these achievements and also, aim to echo the need for CSOs to continue their work in lobbying and advocating for the respect and protection of children’s rights. In this regard, there is a need to explore more opportunities among child protection actors for dialogue, sharing of information, and sharing of values, skills, experiences, and competencies.

The association, on this day, proposes the following recommendations;

To Government:

• To provide a platform for facilitating children’s participation to gather children’s views on strategies to eliminate harmful social and cultural practices.
• To increase efforts in the protection of children and criminalise child marriage.
• To amend all ancillary laws that may have a direct relationship with the provisions prohibiting child marriage, to ensure consistency and harmony in the legal framework
• To implement the provisions of African human rights systems, including recommendations by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission).

To CSOs:

• To take stock of and raise awareness about harmful practices against children.
• To continue raising awareness of the need for the full implementation of children-related policies that safeguard them against harmful practices.
• To lobby and advocate for the adoption of Universal Periodic Review recommendations that deals with children’s protection by the government of Zimbabwe.
• To collaborate with State, Non-State, and other relevant partners in pursuit of improved child protection policies and practices.  

To the Media:

• To offer platforms for the deliberation of policies affecting children in the country
• To amplify the various harmful practices affecting children
• To continue educating the public on the importance of respecting children’s rights

NANGO is the coordinating body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe. It is the umbrella body for Non-Governmental Organisations and was established in 1962. It is a non-partisan, non-profit making organisation and non-denominational coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. It is mandated by its membership to coordinate the activities of NGOs, represent the NGO sector, and strengthen the voice of NGOs in Zimbabwe. Here is to the African Child on our Day.

For further engagement during this period please do not hesitate to get in touch with NANGO Acting Executive Director Ernest Nyimai at director.nango@gmail.com, NANGO Board Chairperson Lamiel BK Phiri at lamielbkp@gmail.com or NANGO Board Secretary Michael Ndiweni at bulawayovendors@gmail.com.