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Child labour rife in Zimbabwe
The Daily Mirror (Zimbabwe)
July 04, 2006

http://www.dailymirror.co.zw/dailymirror/view_news.cfm?storyid=23863

ZIMBABWE recently commemorated seven days against child abuse.

Though focus was on child sexual abuse, not much was said about child labour in the country. The Central Statistics Office said that child labour increased from 17,7 percent in 1999 to 37 percent in 2004.

The International Labour Organisation defined child labour as work done by a child below 15 years of age. This interferes with the social, health, moral and physical development of a child.

Employer’s Confederation of Zimbabwe child labour project officer Farai Masunda said that poverty was the main cause of child labour in Zimbabwe. "The increase in poverty has led to the decline in the standards of living owing to the prevailing economic climate," he said. "It’s more likely that it will remain a problem if the trend continues."

Masunda said the elimination of child labour is coming against the backdrop of cultural values that promote it. The challenge, he said, was to change the mindset of people.

Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children spokesperson Moreblessing Kwangware said that the increasing difficult economic climate in Zimbabwe, coupled with the high prevalence of HIV and Aids, would make it difficult to eradicate child labour in the country.

"As long as we have the prevalence of HIV and Aids and the difficult economic conditions, we will always fight a losing war against child labour.

"The HIV and Aids scourge has claimed the lives of many breadwinners in the family, thereby forcing young children to work for a living.

"This is increasing cases of child labour," she said. The CSO survey showed that the impact of child labour on education was significant.

Only 7 percent of those engaged in child labour, working between 31 to 40 hours a week, attend school. About 5 percent of children working more than 40 hours a week attend lessons. This affects government drive to educate children in the country.

Agriculture employs the highest number of children. Many farmers exploit children as cheap labour. Some sections of the community blame land reform for using children, they pay very little.

Masunda said Emcoz started a phone shop project in the Eastern Highlands to enable children to generate their own income.

Emcoz, he said, also encouraged children to start their own projects, which include peanut butter and soap making with its assistance.

Masunda said lack of funds hampered their efforts to fight child labour at national level.

Kwangware said overcoming economic challenges and reducing cases of HIV and Aids infection would solve the problem.

The CSO report recommends that more resources should be channelled towards income generating projects that the Ministries of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development and Youth Development and Employment Creation would spearhead.

Child labour is a threat to the economic development of the country. It should be curbed to stimulate economic growth.

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