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Dreams for the right to education fulfilled
Justice for Children Trust
February 29, 2008

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The right to education is clearly spelt out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child as well as in the Education Act of Zimbabwe. It is the duty of the government to ensure that all children have access to education regardless of their gender, race, religion and beliefs. Our justice delivery system is playing a leading role to ensure that children access their fundamental right to education without being disadvantaged due to whatever reason. The Herald of 12 October 2007 carried a story of a pupil who had been expelled form a certain school in Harare for wearing dreadlocks.

Farai Dzvova's education was nearly jeopardized because of his religious beliefs and this is grossly unacceptable in a democratic society. There is hope in the justice delivery system in terms of the protection of children`s rights as evidenced by the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of the young boy. Justice Cheda highlighted in his judgement being SC 26/07 that ," It is hereby declared that expulsion of a Rastafarian from school on the basis of his expression of his religious belief through his hairstyle is a contravention of ss 19 and 23 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe" . Therefore all those children who are marginalized by other children because of their religion can now have faith in the justice delivery system.

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