Zimbabwe's Economic Challenges Hinder Efforts to Promote Children's Rights, Minister Says

Zimbabwe's Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, stated that economic difficulties are impeding efforts to promote children's rights in the country. Despite progress in recent years, including the enactment of the Children's Amendment Act of 2023 which criminalizes marriages of people under 18, the government faces obstacles in fully implementing measures to protect and support children.

Ziyambi acknowledged that while the government has pledged to increase domestic funding to ensure progress on issues like sexual and reproductive health rights, inequalities continue to disadvantage many women and girls in Zimbabwe. Over 70% of maternal deaths are still recorded in sub-Saharan Africa. The government has committed funds from the national budget to areas such as contraceptive procurement and is exploring innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate implementation of related programs.

Why this matters: The challenges in promoting children's rights and women's health in Zimbabwe reflect the broader struggles many developing countries face in allocating limited resources. Addressing these fundamental issues is essential for the well-being and future of the population.

However, significant challenges remain, with a high rate of adolescent pregnancy being one key concern. "The government emphasizes the need for investment in education, health, social development and promotion of youth engagement to address these issues," Ziyambi stated. He stressed that the economic difficulties are hindering the country's ability to make the necessary investments to fully tackle these problems at this time.

The Amnesty International annual report praised Zimbabwe for the legislative step of banning child marriage but also criticized the government for repression of dissent and restrictions on freedoms, particularly during the 2023 elections. The report highlighted human rights crises in several other African nations as well.

Key Takeaways

• Zimbabwe struggles to promote children's rights due to economic difficulties.
• Govt pledges to increase funding for sexual/reproductive health, but inequalities persist.
• High adolescent pregnancy rate is a key concern, requiring investment in education, health.
• Govt banned child marriage, but Amnesty criticized repression of dissent and freedoms.
• Economic challenges hinder Zimbabwe's ability to fully address these fundamental issues.