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Heavy security at camp for street children
Valentine Maponga,The Standard (Zimbabwe)
May 28, 2006

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=947

MOST of the children rounded up by the police during a new onslaught on Harare’s street people have been dumped at a heavily guarded Melfort Camp near Bromley.

When The Standard crew visited the camp, older street children were busy collecting firewood under police escort. There were four large tents pitched up to accommodate vagrants, rounded up during the operation, which started on 12 April.

Efforts by this paper to establish the number of people staying at the camp were thwarted by police officers on guard.

But before the guards became aware of the news crew’s presence, one of the vagrants at the camp revealed that older street kids were always trying to escape from Melfort.

"A few days ago a group of street kids tried to escape but were immediately spotted and were brought back," he said.

The officer in charge at the camp, Assistant Inspector Allois Dambaza advised The Standard to first seek authority from the Crime Prevention Officer, a Superintendent Dhlakama based at Harare Central. Dhlakama refused to comment.

Government announced recently that more than 10 "vagrants, street kids, touts and other disorderly elements" had been detained and would be taken to their respective rural homes.

Lance Museka, the Secretary for Public Service Labour and Social Welfare, confirmed the operation was underway on Friday, saying the ultimate objective was to work towards reuniting these children with their families or relatives.

"Those without homes/families to go are placed in alternative care. In the latest round up exercise you (The Standard) referred to, 28 children were affected. Of these, 12 have since been reunited with families in Harare whilst the remaining 26 are in safety whilst their cases are being looked into," he said.

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