THE ZIMBABWE CHILD MONITOR 2015 Tracking Child Rights Through Research
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THE ZIMBABWE CHILD MONITOR 2015 Tracking Child Rights through Research Women’s University in Africa Addressing gender disparities and fostering equity in university education ZIMBABWE CHILD MONITOR 2015 Tracking child rights through research Published by: The Child Sensitive Social Policies Programme of the Women’s University in Africa. The CSSP Programme endeavours to publish and make available innovative high quality scholarly commentaries on child rights and welfare issues that have been peer reviewed and which would inform interventions for the enhancement of child welfare in the country and beyond The Zimbabwe Child Monitor produced with funds from: Papers Compiled and ordered by Tendai Nhenga-Chakarisa Cover Design: Tendai Nhenga-Chakarisa Typesetting and Photography: Impact Solutions Zimbabwe, Harare To order Contact or for more information on the CSSP Programme and the Women’s University in Africa, The CSSP Programme Faculty of Social Sciences and Gender Development Studies Women’s University in Africa 188 Sam Nujoma Avenue, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: +263 4 332131 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.wua.ac.zw Citation suggestion: The Zimbabwe Child Monitor (2015) © 2015 Child Sensitive Social Policies Programme, Women’s University in Africa, Copyright subsists in this work. It may be reproduced only with permission from the Women’s University in Africa. FOREWORD This year is a historic moment for the nation of Zimbabwe as we launch the Zimbabwe Child monitor for the first time. As society we have been given the privilege of ensuring that we protect, promote and fulfil the rights of the child. The Zimbabwe Child Monitor gives an annual snap-shot of the status of Zimbabwe’s children and critically examine the links between their reality, Zimbabwe’s commitment to children's rights, and society’s progress in this regard. Hence it will help us to guarantee this requisite which is upon us. Zimbabwe has ratified a series of Conventions to guarantee the adequate protection of the rights of the child in the country. Key conventions to note are the United National Convention on the rights of the Child as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Therefore this monitor will help a multiplicity of stakeholders in tracking child rights through research and assure evidence based legal and policy reform as well as programming. This issue of the Zimbabwean Child Monitor supports global efforts to monitor and evaluate the rights of the child through research. It provides a sound contribution to our understanding of the challenges faced by children in Zimbabwe and encourages action to be taken by key stakeholders in addressing legal and policy gaps as well as implementation which looks at the lived realities of children. I welcome this monitor and would like all readers to reflect on what Carol Bellamy said; that “… in serving the best interests of children, we serve the best interests of all humanity.” This child monitor through all its different topics will help shape our thoughts and actions as various communities living in this global village. I would like to therefore thank the editors and authors as well as our funders UNICEF (Zimbabwe) and SIDA without all whom this publication would not have been made possible. Prof Hope Cynthia Sadza Vice Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa ACKNOWLEGEMENTS The Child Sensitive Social Policies Programe would like to extent its sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this first Zimbabwe Child Monitor: Special mention goes to: The authors, without whose contributions, this publication would not have come into fruition Professor Hope Cynthia Sadza, the Vice Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa for allowing the Programme to thrive and do the work that it does; Professor Charles Muchemwa Nherera, the Pro- Vice Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa for his astute advice and mentorship during the development of this publication; Dr Elizabeth Chikwiri, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences for her continued support of the Programme; The reviewers who to took some time off their busy schedules to spend time reviewing the papers for this publication and for their insightful comments Mr Shaun Chitsiga who at short notice helped to typeset this publication and design the covers Professor Nyawaranda for doing the technical edits of this publication UNICEF Zimbabwe and the Swedish International Development Coorperation Agency for funding this project and the Programme TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 6 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 OVERVIEW OF THE THE ZIMBABWE CHILD MONITOR .......................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER ONE: MONITORING THE LEGAL AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS ON CHILD RIGHTS IN ZIMBABWE OVERVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL LAW INFORMING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE - TC Nhenga- Chakarisa ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE - CR Hodzi, & TC Nhenga Chakarisa ................................ 18 MONITORING THE DOMESTICATION OF INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL CHILD RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS IN ZIMBABWE - TC Nhenga Chakarisa ..................................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER TWO MONITORING CHILD RIGHTS THROUGH RESEARCH USING EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH TO MONITOR CHILD RIGHTS IN ZIMBABWE ......................................................... 26 EK Musvosvi-Chandaengerwa ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 STRENGTHENING OUR LAW ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE - G Feltoe ..................................................................................... 27 PERCEIVED RISKS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON CHILDREN: THE CASE OF PUPILS FROM FOUR SELECTED HARARE SCHOOLS- E Mtetwa, K Nyikahadzoi, AB Matsika, N Shava, BK Chikwaiwa ................................................ 32 BIRTH REGISTRATION IN ZIMBABWE: CHALLENGES & CURRENT INTERVENTIONS- A Chereni, T Masuka, J Chitereka, EK Musvosvi-Chandaengerwa ........................................................................................................................ 40 DISCIPLINE, THE LAW AND PRACTICAL ALTERNATIVES - E Makura, E Chikwiri, J Musiyiwa, J Mandewo, CR Hodzi ....... 45 CHILD TRAFFICKING AND CHILD SMUGGLING: LEGISLATION AND POLICY GAPS IN ZIMBABWE - V Mabvurira, C Nyoni, R Chigevenga, F Kambarami, R Chavhi ......................................................................................................... 52 THE REALITIES OF CHILDREN IN PROSTITUTION IN ZIMBABWE: A CASE OF BEITBRIDGE AND PLUMTREE BORDER TOWNS - V Mabvurira, C Nyoni, R Chigevenga, F Kambarami, R Chavhi .................................................... 56 A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF FOOD AND NUTRITION INSECURITY STATUS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 6-11 YEARS - M Muchuweti, N G. Mushonga, PE Gombiro, C Benhura, G Nyandoro, T Chagomoka, VC Manyisa, S Matavire ........................................................................................................................................................................ 61 STAKEHOLDERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AS A SENTENCING OPTION FOR MALE CHILD OFFENDERS IN ZIMBABWE - W Jiri ............................................................................................................. 61 CHAPTER THREE: MONITORING BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS FOR CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE INTRODUCTION TO CHILD FRIENDLY BUDGETING - C Nziradzemhuka ............................................................................... 15 USING FISCAL POLICY TO ADDRESS CHILD POVERTY, SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND INEQUALITY - BL Muchabaiwa........ 16 SOCIAL AND CHILD PROTECTION BUDGET BRIEF - UNICEF Zimbabwe, Social Policy & Research Section ....................... 24 2015 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION BUDGET BRIEF-UNICEF Zimbabwe, Social Policy & Research Section ... 26 2015 HEALTH AND CHILD CARE BUDGET BRIEF - UNICEF Zimbabwe, Social Policy & Research Section .......................... 29 CHAPTER FOUR: MONITORING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN USING INDICATORS THE USE OF CHILD INDICATORS TO MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHILD RIGHTS PRINCIPLES IN ZIMBABWE - TC Nhenga-Chakarisa .................................................................................................................................. 32 MONITORING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IN SELECTED SECTORS - JChitereka, T Mangwengwende .......................... 35 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS LIST OF AUTHORS Dr Tendai Charity Nhenga-Chakarisa – Research Mr Abel Blessing Matsika – Lecturer at the School for Board Chair/ Programme Head of the Social Work, University of Zimbabwe