ZNCWC Annual Report 2020

2020

Annual Report 2020

ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE
Zimbabwe National
Council for the
Welfare of Children
(ZNCWC)

Contents

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2

2.0 THE STATE OF CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE: 2020 4

2.1 Socio-economic situation 4

2.2 Child protection issues: Child abuse and gender- based violence 5

2.3 Legal and Policy framework 5

3.0 PROJECT SUMMARIES 7

3.1 CHILD PARTICIPATION AND INCLUSION PROJECT: Supported by BMZ 7

3.2 CHILD AND YOUTH DRIVEN PEACE INITIATIVE: Supported by Terre des Hommes (TDH) 9

3.3 INCREASING CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO EDUCATION- Supported by

WEI/OSISA 12

3.4 PROMOTING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION DURING COVID-19

– supported by PACT Zimbabwe 14

4.0 STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 15

4.1 Child Rights Coalition (CRC) activities 15

4.2 The Zimbabwe Child Rights Coalition Conference 2020 17

4.3 Media Engagements 19

5.0 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS/SUPPORT TO POLICY INFLUENCING 20

6.0 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 22

6.1 Organizational Policy Development 22

6.2 Staff Capacity Building 22

7.0 CHALLENGES 23

8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 23

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1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC) Annual Report for 2020 was
compiled to present an accurate account of all project activities carried out in the year. The year
2020 was a challenging one in terms of the organization’s operations, given that the country and the
world as a whole was facing one of the most critical emergencies in modern times: the COVID 19
pandemic. In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, the organization was obligated to revise its
program approach to respond to the needs of primary actors who interact with ZNCWC’s projects, as
well as contribute to the CSO emergency response initiatives. ZNCWC was required to review its
operational context to achieve project and organizational goals in the midst of a health crisis with
lockdown restrictions curtailing its reach to primary actors.

The report gives an overview of the state of Zimbabwe’s children in 2020, the operational
environment the organization has been implementing child rights advocacy activities; in the
economic, social and legal context. The current operational portfolio of ZNCWC consists of 4
projects; the on-going BMZ (German Cooperation) and Terre des Hommes (Germany) (TDH) projects,
the Increasing Civic Participation in Children’s Right to Education project – supported by WEI/B and
OSISA as well as a new project supported by PACT Zimbabwe, which came on board in December
2020. The purpose of the report is to determine the progress ZNCWC has made towards achieving
its strategic objectives in 2020. The report will highlight summaries of various program activities
undertaken, including communications and stakeholder coordination, regional and international
advocacy engagements. The Annual Report also gives an overview of the Child Rights Coalition (CRC)
activities that the organization coordinated. The report will also highlight challenges faced in the
reporting period and possible recommendations for the next operational year.

The four projects that were being implemented by ZNCWC in the period under review were:
• Child participation and Inclusion Project – supported by BMZ
• The Child and Youth Driven Peace Initiative – supported by TDH Germany
• Increasing Civic Participation in Children’s Right to Education project – supported by WEI/B
and OSISA (ended in April 2020)
• Promoting children’s rights to access quality education during COVID-19 – supported by
PACT Zimbabwe

The major successes achieved by ZNCWC in the period under review included:

• Reaching approximately 1,190 children and young people directly and indirectly through the
various projects, including trainings on child protection systems, participation, ecological
child rights, disability inclusion, and through several commemorations such as International
Day of the Girl Child, Day of the African Child, Universal Children’s Day amongst others,
though actual targets were not reached owing to COVID 19 lockdown restrictions

• Successfully hosted the Zimbabwe Child Rights Coalition Conference commemorating the
30th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)
which was held under the theme: “A Zimbabwe we want for our children today and
beyond”.

• Establishment of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights; a caucus group made up of
Parliamentarians from chairpersons and representatives from the various parliamentary
portfolio committees that are involved in child rights issues

• Regional consultative meetings for the Child Rights Coalition members throughout the
country, reaching 120 child rights CSOs for the CSO complementary report to the African
Committee of Experts on the Rights of the Child.

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• Child Rights and Protection Assessment was carried out in April to June 2020 in partnership
with Plan International and the Child Rights Coalition to assess the position of children in the
rise of the COVID 19 pandemic. This assessment was conducted to strengthening policy and
program response for government, development partners, CSOs and communities for child
protection systems in the midst of the pandemic

The key lessons learned in the reporting period included:
• Increased capacity in emergency programming: with the outbreak of COVID 19 in the
country in March 2020. ZNCWC was faced with addressing disaster preparedness, mitigation
and response mechanisms within the child rights sector.
• Situational analysis is key – constant surveillance of the everchanging operational
environment at the operational level
• Key issues in child rights advocacy; the organization is still pushing for the state party report
to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the enactment
of the Marriages Bill, Child Justice Bill, Children’s Amendment Bill, amongst others.

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2.0 THE STATE OF CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE: 2020

2.1 Socio-economic situation

Humanitarian crisis: COVID 19 pandemic

The first cases of the novel coronavirus COVID 19 were reported in Wuhan Province in China, on 19
December 2019. The World Health Organization declared the virus a global pandemic on 12 January
2020. The first confirmed cases of COVID 19 were recorded in March 2020 and the Government of
Zimbabwe instituted level 5 lockdown measures from the 28th of March 2020. Since then, Zimbabwe
has recorded 35,315 cases, 30,979 recoveries and 1,414 deaths as of the 16th of February 20211.
Though cases and deaths due to COVID 19 are generally lower than that of adults, UNICEF has
estimated that at least 6,000 children could lose their lives to other preventable diseases worldwide
as COVID 19 further weakens already fragile health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
For instance, in Zimbabwe, there was a malaria outbreak hidden within the COVID 19 pandemic.
From 1 January to 3 May 2020, the country recorded 262,968 malaria cases and 246 deaths.
Approximately 3,359 cases were recorded amongst children, with approximately 25 deaths2.

Food security situation

On the 2nd of April, 2020, the Zimbabwe Humanitarian Response Plan was launched which indicated
that 7 million people in urban and rural areas in the country required urgent food assistance,
compared to 5.5 million in 2019. Drought due to crop failure, exacerbated by macro-economic
challenges, and austerity measures, have directly affected vulnerable households in both rural and
urban areas. Inflation continues to erode purchasing power and affordability of food and other
essential goods. There were more than 4.3 million people severely food insecure by February 2020,
and at least 2.2 million people cereal insecure in urban areas. The late and erratic rainfall pattern for
the 2019/2020 rainy season increased the likelihood for a poor harvest. Nutritional needs also
remained critical as over 1.1 million children and women were requiring nutritional assistance3.
Furthermore, the drought and fragile food security situation heightened the risk of protection
violations against women and children.

Macro-economic situation, health and sanitation

At least 4 million people were facing challenges in terms of accessing primary health care, with the
drought and the macro-economic crisis worsening the situation. The decreasing availability of safe
drinking water, sanitation and hygiene increased the risk of water-borne disease for 3.7 million
Zimbabweans. Some 1.2 million children were facing challenges regarding accessing education, also
in light of the COVID 19 pandemic induced school closures. A year after Cyclone Idai hit Zimbabwe in
March 2019, 128,270 people remained in need of humanitarian assistance in the 12 affected districts
of Manicaland and Masvingo provinces4.

1 Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID 19 Updates, 23 February 2021
2 Zimbabwe Situation Report, 21 May 2020, UN OCHA
3 Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) Report, May 2020.
4 Zimbabwe Situation Report, 21 May 2020, UN OCHA

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2.2 Child protection issues: Child abuse and gender- based violence

During emergency situations, children – particularly girls and young women, are susceptible
heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse. Adolescent girls are at the highest risk; when
disasters strike, they are more likely to drop out of school, be married off, fall pregnant and lose
their livelihoods. In the context of COVID 19, the risks to girls/young women include greater
exposure to infection- as GAYW are usually the care givers to those who are sick in most households
in low income/developing countries. Approximately 743 million girls are out of school due to school
closures5. The rates of GBV have increased throughout the world by at least three-fold since the
pandemic started. Musasa Project reported that in the first phase of the lockdown in March 2020,
their organization received over 700 cases of gender- based violence against girls and women in just
11 days, whereas the organization usually receives about 500-600 cases over a period of one month6

In a study conducted by the Child Rights Coalition, ZNCWC and Plan International; “Child Rights and
Protection Assessment (CRPA) – COVID 19 Pandemic April-June 2020”, child rights/protection
violations that emerged included Violence against children and abuse including sexual abuse &
exploitation, child marriages and limited access to child protection services and reporting channels.
Other challenges raised included limited access to SRHR information and services, fear around access
to and continuing of education, psychological stress and inadequate/misinformation on COVID 19
prevention. Out of the 20,592 children between the ages of 9-17 years reached in the study, the
following results were determined (number of children who experienced sexual abuse):

Table 1: Number of reported cases of sexual abuse: Child Rights and Protection Assessment - 2020

Month #girls who experienced #boys who
sexual
sexual abuse experienced

abuse

April 425 106
May 530 98
June 610 53

The table indicates that the number of girls who experienced sexual abuse increased month on
month as the lockdown progressed. Girls and young women also expressed increased vulnerability
to early and unintended pregnancies, sexual exploitation, and child marriage, with some girls at risk
of not returning to school when schools re-open7.

2.3 Legal and Policy framework

As of August 2020, there were several child rights related bills that were still pending on the
legislative agenda due to lockdown restrictions. ZNCWC has noted this with great concern that the

5 “COVID 19 and its impact on girls: Global Report” Plan International, 2020 https://plan-
international.org/publications/covid-19-impact-girls
6 “Lockdown with your abuser: Over 700 GBV cases in 11 days” in The Herald, 13 April 2020
https://www.herald.co.zw/lockdown-with-your-abuser-over-700-gbv-in-11-days/amp/
7 Child Rights and Protection Assessment COVID 19: April to June 2020, Zimbabwe National Council
for the Welfare of Children, The Child Rights Coalition and Plan International, unpublished

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COVID 19 pandemic has further delayed the already slow pace of re-alignment process of child rights
laws to the 2013 Constitution. The following pending bills were noted:

Marriages Bill
The Marriages Bill was also gazetted in 2019 and was drafted to amend the Marriages Act and the
Customary Marriages Act. The Marriages Bill is significant in that it seeks to uphold the rights of
women and children as outlined in the Constitution, to outlaw child marriage, pledging of children
and women in marriage, protection of children from sexual exploitation, protecting women and
children’s rights upon dissolution of marriage, among other issues. Having one marriage law in
Zimbabwe will ensure the legal age of marriage at 18 years, which supersedes the previous law that
the age of customary marriage at 16 years. ZNCWC and its partners took part in consultations at
various platforms for the Marriages Bill especially regards outlawing of child marriage. The bill is yet
to be enacted into law and civil society is monitoring progress. ZNCWC is concerned that the process
of finalizing the bill has taken long since the historic 2016 Constitutional Court ruling. As of August
2020, the bill had passed through National Assembly and was with the Senate.

Children’s Amendment Bill

The Children’s Amendment Bill principally focuses on ensuring compliance with section 19, as read
with section 81 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which grants every child the right to be protected
from economic and sexual exploitation, from child labour, and maltreatment, neglect or any form of
abuse. The Bill primarily hinges on the principle of the best interest of the child which finds its basis
in Article 3 of the Convention on the Rights of Children. The Bill will address the criminalisation of
adults who facilitates indulgence of children in pornography-related activities, prohibition of child
trafficking, and providing protection to children who may grow up without their biological parents.
The process towards finalizing the bill has taken a considerable amount of time and it is anticipated
that the bill will be concluded in the next Parliamentary session.

Child Justice Bill

The Child Justice Bill is a new piece of legislation that seeks to regularise provision of justice to
children in conflict with the law. Given that legal issues pertaining to children in conflict with the law
is spread over a number of legislative instruments, such as the Children’s Act (Children’s
Amendment Bill), Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, and the Criminal Law (Codification and
Reform) Act. The Child Justice Bill is calling for, amongst other issues, realignment of child justice
issues with the 2013 Constitution, raising of the age of criminal responsibility to 12 years and
instituting the pre-trial diversion system. Since this is a new bill and not an amendment, the drafting
process has taken a significant amount of time. However, ZNCWC contributed to the drafting
process/review process for both the Children’s Amendment Bill and Child Justice Bill at a workshop
held in Kadoma in November 2020.

Mandatory Sentencing of Rape and Sexual Offences Bill

As of August 2020, the Mandatory Sentencing of Rape and Sexual Offences Bill was still to be
considered in the National Assembly. This is the amendment of the Criminal Law (Codification
Reform) Act (9.23) of Mandatory Sentencing of Rape and Sexual Offences, which is to amend the
Sexual Offences Act of 2009. The bill is proposing mandatory minimum sentences for sex offenders,
particularly those who commit offences against children and persons with disabilities (proposed at
40 years and 60 years respectively). However, the bill has been pending since the motion was moved
in Parliament in 2014.

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Persons with Disabilities Bill

The finalization of the bill has coincided with processes for the domestication of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which was ratified by Zimbabwe in
2009, but was still in the process of domestication. The motion for the domestication was moved in
Parliament on the 13th of November, 2020, taking into account that the National Disability Policy is
also yet to be finalized since 2010. This necessitated the amendment of the Disabled Persons Act
(2009). It is with great concern that these policies have taken such a long time to be finalized, when
the 2013 Constitution has clearly outlined the non-discrimination of all persons. It is hoped that the
Persons with Disability Bill will be prioritised in the next Parliamentary session.

Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill

Though this bill is largely to do with national cyber security and data protection, it is the current
piece of legislature that protects children from online abuse. However, child rights CSOs have raised
the concern that the There is need for a standalone legislative framework that protects children in
situations of cyber violence and vulnerability rather than inferring from the available statutes. There
is a need for a clear definition of what constitutes child pornography and what sexually explicit
conduct is. Revisiting the bill is necessary in order to include all forms of cyber violence against
children e.g.-cyber bullying. The Bill should consider revising many of the definitions to increase
specificity and remove vagueness and ambiguity so as to be child friendly. ZNCWC through the Child
Rights Coalition partners participated in public consultations on the bill in October and November
2020.

3.0 PROJECT SUMMARIES

3.1 CHILD PARTICIPATION AND INCLUSION PROJECT: Supported by BMZ

Specific objectives:
• To enhance the participation of children in Kwekwe, including those with disabilities in
advocating for their rights and participate actively in policy making processes
• To strengthen the role of Civil Society Organisations through enhanced networking
platforms to advocate for children’s’ rights
• To increase the capacity of People with disabilities to better exercise their rights and are
better integrated in their communities
• To strengthen local project partners in the area of project management, gender equality and
specific child rights issues

Major achievements in 2020

• 30 participants participated in the training of child led groups in gender, advocacy and
disability inclusion - The Junior Councillors, Members of Parliament and Kwekwe child led
group were refreshed on the projects three thematic areas and the refresher training was
facilitated by the Bulawayo team who also shared the training model which they came up
with when they were training the Bulawayo junior assembly.

• 40 participants targeted in engagement meetings between child led groups and junior
assembly members were conducted - to discuss areas of collaboration and partnership on
projects being implemented and these include nutritional gardens, virtual awareness
campaigns on various issues and the thematic areas, advocating for easy access of water and

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poultry. The 2 groups also dwelt on coordination and reflection on the work they have done,
challenges faced, matters arising that need to be addressed such as the rise in child abuse
cases, child marriages, drug abuse due to the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown as well as
gender based violence.
• 65 participants participated in child led group awareness campaigns which included a camp,
and an online campaign. The campaign against child sexual exploitation was done on virtual
WhatsApp platform and messages were posted on all social media platforms. During
campaign, members of the group shared their presentations and there was Question and
Answer session.
• 20 teacher mentors reached in a teacher mentor refresher training exercise. Participants
were capacitated on how to advocate, emphasis was made on the need to have statics to
strengthen the point of advocacy. Participants were conscientized on the statutory
instruments governing rights of children and persons with disabilities which are the UNCRPD
and Zimbabwe’s constitution. On gender, participants were refreshed on the difference
between gender and sex. Emphasize was made on gender transformation to ensure that no
child is left behind
• 35 participants targeted for the 2 coordination and reflection meetings conducted in July
and September 2020 respectively. The July meeting was centred on coming up with issues
and challenges the junior assembly is facing in their constituencies so that they can present
these issues to the senior council when they have an engagement meeting. In the
September meeting the agenda was focused on the challenges the junior assembly are
facing during the COVID 19 lockdown and these include limited access to service providers
on issues of SRHR, issues of child abuse, concerns on reopening of schools regarding exam
classes.
• Support to young people to participate in the Children’s Report to the African Committee of
Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child - The children had a refresher session on the
current status of the report; The participants were divided into groups and they had group
works addressing the report and each group shared their presentation and the outcomes
were in cooperated into the report. Presentations on selected broad topics included SRHR,
child participation, supplementary reporting process, Child friendly budgeting, and gender
and social inclusion and COVID 19 impacts
• Children’s- CSO engagements - The junior assembly presented their issues and challenges
they are facing from their different constituencies. Some of the cases include limited access
to SRHR services, child marriages, child labour, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, gender
based violence and lack of disability friendly infrastructure in schools, drug abuse and
discrimination on sporting activities for disabled children.
• Actions on world-children-days with project-related content contributions -the project
supported 100 children for the Day of the African Child commemorations (62 females and 38
males), 80 girls for the girls Conference and During the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities, 350 participants attended the event 203 females and 147 males). Each
commemoration had IEC material in the form of t-shirts printed with advocacy messages on
child rights and disability inclusion to help spread the message and information so as to
create awareness. DAC commemorations saw children leading the proceedings.
• Capacity building of CSOs on gender, disability inclusion and advocacy - Participants were
refreshed on disability inclusion, advocacy as well as gender and social inclusion. The issue of
a inclusion policy was discussed and all the participating organisations were urged to have
an inclusion policy and advocate for inclusion policies to other CSOs that we work with and
all over the region as well as nationwide.
• Support to Midlands CSOs to participate in Child Rights annual conference – Midlands CSOs
were represented and participated in the conference that was hosted by Kwekwe district
(see section on Child Rights Coalition Conference)

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3.2 CHILD AND YOUTH DRIVEN PEACE INITIATIVE: Supported by Terre des
Hommes (TDH)

Specific objectives
• Improved enforcement and monitoring of laws and policies to prevent all forms of violence
against children and build a culture of peace within various social institutions.
• Children are better protected from all forms of violence in schools and communities.
• Strengthened and effective child protection systems for prevention of violence against
children.

Major achievements in 2020:

- trainings for Duty Bearers on Child Protection Laws and Policies: one training was conducted
on the 19th of June 2020. 18 (11F/7M) were reached by the training. The fourth training was
conducted on 11th of December 2020 and reached 9 Duty Bearers (M2/F7) in Hopely

- trainings on Children’s rights and advocacy Child Protection Laws and Policies for children
and young people: two trainings were conducted which became the third and fourth
trainings. The third training was conducted on the 15th of February 2020. The fourth training
was conducted on11 December 2020 and reached out to 33 Children (13M/10F)

- awareness creation sessions for Duty Bearers on the status and forms of violence affecting
children: fifth online awareness was carried with ZTN that has around 2 million viewers to
raise alarm on the status and forms of violence affecting children as they escalated during
lockdown period. The discussion focused on the Covid-19 pandemic and the ways in which it
has affected key child rights issues. The dialogue had 6 participants (2 F/4M) including Rev.
Nyanhete ZNCWC National Director and representatives from other organisations in the
child rights sector. They all agreed that the lockdown contributed to curtailment of child
rights and conversely raised a spike in abuses. Safe spaces for children are limited hence the
high likelihood of abuse. ZNCWC emphasized and called upon Government to prioritize
investing in children.

- policy dialogue meetings targeting 60 policy makers tracking progress of implementation of
child protection laws and policies: One dialogue was conducted on the 16th of June 2020 at
Cresta Oasis Hotel. 22(14M/8F) Children engaged with parliamentarians from different
Portfolio Committees including Budget and Finance, Gender and Woman’s Affairs, Health
and Social Welfare. The second policy dialogue was conducted on 25 August 2020 and
reached 6 Children (2F/4M) and 23 Adults (14M/9F

- development and presentation of 1 petition to parliament and 2 to local authorities on child
protection and building a culture of peace at community level by children and youths: A
workshop was held in Chitungwiza with the House of Talents an advocacy group consulting
on writing a petition and stating problems which are being faced by children in the
community in light of COVID-19. The petition consultation meeting was held on 11th of
September 2020 in Chitungwiza and 15 children participated (8M/7F)

- Facilitate and Support Development of monitoring Framework for child rights laws:
Consultations were done with children on the 15th of February on the development of the
framework. 30 Children participated on the consultations with (14M/16F) at Hopely
Livelihoods Centre. Children and young people took part in development of monitoring
framework held on the 20th of August 2020.These were 18 in total F5 M13. Monitoring
Framework was, finalised and shared with 29 children and young people F11 M18 in Hopely
and Chitungwiza. The monitoring framework was also shared with11 Adult Child Protection
Committee thus F5 M6

- Commemorations conducted included Day of the African Child, International Day of the Girl
Child, Universal Children’s Day, International Day against Child Sexual Abuse and

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International Day of Peace – a total of 532 children and adults reached in these
commemorations
- Conduct National Conference for 200 children and youths from Child and Youth Led Groups
to dialogue on the role they can play in building a culture of peace: 2020 Children’s report
Conference was held successfully in Karumazondo Marondera on 1-7 November 2020 but
with limited number of children to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions. 50 Children participated
with (27F/23M0. Children’s report was finalised and is ready for submission to the ACERWC
- Youth GAM activities:

o ZNCWC Children and Youth from Chitungwiza House of Talents wrapped the G.A.M
by discussing environmental issues in their community infringing their rights. Young
people from House of Talents held ECR dialogue discussing key environmental
concerns in their Chitungwiza Community and came up with a plan to engage key
stakeholders who can address the issues.

o On the 28th of November ZNCWC in partnership with ZELA engaged children from
Deaf Zimbabwe Trust to raise awareness on ECR and to commemorate the Universal
Children's Day. the children were a special group with hearing impairments, and this
was to ensure that no one is left behind

o A radio interview with ZiFM was conducted in Harare to discuss about the ECR
Campaign and encourage people to sign the ECR Petition

o A clean-up campaign was conducted in Hopely to raise awareness of the ECR
Campaign. ZNCWC in partnership with City of Harare and EMA conducted a clean-up
Campaign in Hopely on Friday 6 November 2020. This was following the Global
Action Month running under the theme ‘The right to a healthy environment-
promoting environmental child rights

Figure 1: Clean Up Campaign in Hopely Community for Global Action Month

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Figure 2:Young people raising concern over escalating child abuse cases on radio ZiFM Stereo 106.4FM to raise
awareness on violence against children

Figure 3:Commemorating International Peace Day in Hopely running under the theme "Shaping Peace Together".
Young people from ZNCWC held a dialogue with duty bearers in Hopely on Promoting Peaceful Communities

Figure 4: Universal Children's Day Commemorations held on 2 Dec 2020. This was done by raising awareness on
ECR Campaign to young people and Children with hearing impairment at Deaf Zimbabwe Trust

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3.3 INCREASING CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO
EDUCATION- Supported by WEI/OSISA

Specific objectives:
• Capacity building on accountability and governance to child protection committee members,
junior councillors and parliamentarians in 5 selected schools
• Capacity building of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) on leadership
and accountable governance in 5 selected schools
• Strengthen coordination and consultation among the Child Advisory Boards, junior
councillors and parliamentarians and child led CPCs

Major achievements in 2020

• Assisting Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education with Coordination meetings in the 5
schools: These meetings tracked the progress CABs members were making in terms of
enhancing governance and accountability in their respective schools. The coordination
meetings were to facilitate technical support to MoPSE as well as monitoring progress of the
project.

• The initial meetings capacitated CABs members in their roles and responsibilities, ways of
improving their minute taking, report writing, action planning and documentation. The
following meetings checked on progress regards the development of the CABs constitutions
and use of the child school governance tool, as well as successes and challenges being faced
by the CABs members

• Coordinate and support MoPSE conduct trainings on Child Advisory boards on leadership
and accountability governance: 5 Training sessions covered child rights and child
participation, roles and responsibilities of children, the child participation guide, leadership
and governance, roles and responsibilities of CABs, report writing and documentation. A
total of 52 CABs members and 7 junior assembly members were reached in the trainings.

• Assist WEI/B with coordination and conducting of consultative meetings: ZNCWC supported
MoPSE to conduct these initial consultative meetings where CABs members had the
opportunity to interface with junior assembly members and deliberate on child rights issues
in their respective districts. The problem and solution tree analysis tool was used to enable
the CABs and junior assembly members to identify child rights advocacy issues in their
districts particularly but not limited to the right to education and develop recommendations
to address these challenges

• Facilitate entry into key spaces, events and audiences with parliamentarians and key policy
influencers to increase children’s voices: 1 x Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Meeting on
Primary and Secondary Education 2020 National Budget Review Meeting; 1 x Child Rights
Coalition (CRC) Children's Summit attended. CABs and junior assembly members had the
opportunity to present their input regarding the 2020 National Budget regarding education
and child rights advocacy issues to senior parliamentarians.

• Review Child Participation Framework: CABs from all the 5 schools inputted into the review
exercise - members suggested that more information be added regarding the Harts ladder of
participation, elaboration on some sections such as leadership qualities, translation of guide
into local languages/transcribing guide into accessible formats for children with
disabilities/simplifying terminology where possible, more pictures, etc. 100 copies of the
child participation framework were finalized and printed for distribution

- Technical Support Visits: All the monthly coordination meetings visits were utilized to track
progress of project outputs and outcomes. The final coordination meetings were set aside
for evaluation exercises were the “H” assessment tool was used to evaluate progress
made/lessons learnt, ZNCWC and ECOZI’s activities, processes and project delivery

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Figure 5: Junior assembly and CABs members from Goromonzi District conduct the problem tree analysis exercise
at a consultative meeting

Figure 6: Junior assembly and CABs members do the problem tree analysis for presentation of child rights adovacy
issues, Goromonzi district

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Figure 7: Leadership and governance training exercise for High Glen district

Figure 8: "H" assessment for project evaluation at Munyawiri School, Goromonzi District

3.4 PROMOTING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO ACCESS QUALITY EDUCATION
DURING COVID-19 – supported by PACT Zimbabwe

Project Goal: To improve Zimbabwean children’s enjoyment of their rights to quality and inclusive
education during COVID 19 by increasing citizens’ awareness about children’s constitutional rights to
education.
Objectives:

• Increase the levels of awareness of different educational stakeholders, including parents,
guardians, children, youth, school authorities and other duty bearers, about children’s
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educational rights and the violations of these rights happening during the Covid19 pandemic
by December 2020.
• Increase children’s access to their rights to education during the COVID 19 crisis by engaging
various solution holders through multiple advocacy initiatives by December 2020.
• To improve the health and safety of children in schools during the COVID 19 pandemic by
monitoring government and school authorities’ compliance with COVID 19
safety/operational procedures by December 2020.

Major achievements in 2020
• Being a new project, most activities were introductory with ZNCWC establishing the new
project in Mazowe, Goromonzi and High Glen districts
• The project was set to start in December 2020 but due to COVID 19 restrictions and other
protocols, implementation was set to start in 2021

4.0 STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

4.1 Child Rights Coalition (CRC) activities

There were numerous activities coordinated by the ZNCWC/Child Rights Coalition secretariat which
included but were not limited to the following:

Day of the African Child Commemorations
• The meeting also noted that Government is committed to fulfilment of international
obligations the State is party to such as the UNCRC and ACRWC by making efforts to submit
the periodic reports
• The current criminal justice system applicable to adults is also used by children and does not
effectively provide for a unique child friendly justice system. Hence, the pre-trial diversion
programme piloted since 2013 and made a permanent feature of the justice system to try
and provide a child friendly justice system
• -The pre-trail diversion has been successful in terms of reducing the rate of recidivism and
only 4% have come back as reoffenders
• -Concerting is the fact that panellists did not highlight the plight of children with disabilities
with regards access to a child friendly justice system. These are areas which need further
interrogation

Engagement dialogue on Child Rights Issues in Light of Covid 19

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• The meeting was part of a series of meetings that were coordinated by ZNCWC and
supported by the Civil Society Strengthening Project (CSS), partnering with Plan International

• Various Coalition members, children and government ministry representatives participated
• Recommendations emerging from the meeting included an urgent need to engage the

Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in relation to creating a child friendly budget
that fully represents the aspirations and requirements of children and people with
disabilities
• Recommendations also included

o Sign language/Braille as compulsory subjects from primary level
o Updating of a central database for children with disabilities
o Advocate for the improvement of coordination among the relevant ministries that

deal with child rights and child protection issues
o Resource mobilization and budget tracking/monitoring of resources directed to

COVID 19 response
o Basic special education training for all teacher training courses
o Awareness raising on the Education Amendment Act and positive parenting
o Advocate for a centralized coordination mechanism – a separate ministry for

children to coordinate child rights and child protection issues in Zimbabwe

Engagement dialogue on Child Rights Issues in Light of COVID 19 – Education Cluster

• Participants included representatives from CRC members who included Deaf Zimbabwe
Trust, ECOZI, ZINECDA, TAAF, FAZEWI, SALTT, RAU, Shanduko, Higher Life Foundation, DMFT
and ZNCWC. Participants also included child led group members from House of Talents,
Advocates of Hope and Harare Junior Council.

• Presentations were given from various organizations and child led groups giving a synopsis
of the situation of children’s access to education in the light of COVID 19, including special
groups like children with disabilities, early child hood development education, access to
alternative learning strategies like radio and online lessons

• Recommendations to put forward to GOZ included Sign language/Braille as compulsory
subjects from primary level, Updating of a central database for children with disabilities,
advocate for the improvement of coordination among the relevant ministries that deal with
child rights and child protection issues.

Engagement meeting: Murehwa District
• Participants included Child Rights Coalition members who are operating in Mashonaland

East province, various key government departments including the Department of Social
Development, and representatives of the Chief’s Council
• The Department of Social Development made a presentation in which issues included:
increase in child marriages, abuse and sexual exploitation cases, information dissemination
which was being done by NGOs/CSOs and closure of schools has contributed to hunger for
children as the school feeding scheme took care of their food requirements including diet
and nutrition.
• Recommendations given at the meeting by stakeholders included:

o Food relief has to be increased in frequency and list of beneficiaries updated
o Awareness campaigns about targeting children about their rights and the Covid-19

pandemic.
o Provision of referrals known to children about how and where to seek support

services for extreme stress or psycho social support.

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o Implementation of family tracing systems to identify extended family members who
might care for children who have lost their parent or guardians to Covid-19

Child Rights Coalition Quarterly meetings

• All the Child Rights Quarterly meetings were conducted as planned in the period under
review, with the first and second quarterly meetings being two being hosted by the
Mashonaland region (Harare) and the third being hosted by Masvingo region
(Masvingo)(fourth being the annual conference hosted by Midlands region (Kwekwe)

• Support for the meetings came through from the CSS project, FOST, Save the Children,
amongst other partners

• Main issues discussed were mostly child rights programming in emergencies as in the case of
the COVID 19 response

4.2 The Zimbabwe Child Rights Coalition Conference 2020

• The 2020 Annual Child Rights Coalition Conference ran under the theme, ‘A Zimbabwe we
want for our children today and beyond’. The conference was informed by the need to
reflect on the status of children in Zimbabwe with a particular reference to the notable
successes and gaps to be addressed.

• The specific objectives of the conference were:
o To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the African Children’s Charter.
o To evaluate the achievements and challenges of the Child Rights Coalition for the
year 2020.
o To share on the state of child rights in Zimbabwe and discuss on interventions that
will ensure the fulfilment and enjoyment of these rights by all children in Zimbabwe.

• In addition, the Conference commemorated the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on
the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The commemorations highlighted on the progress
report of the implementation of child rights in Zimbabwe.

• Members from the Child Rights Coalition that participated in the conference were chosen
from different clusters such as legal and policy sectors, child protection, child participation,
gender and girls’ empowerment, disability inclusion and alternative care.

• This provided the opportunity to have an in-depth understanding of the status of children’s
rights in light of COVID-19. The conference was conducted through presentations and role
plays which were largely participatory in approach.

• The presentations managed to take stock of the status of children’s rights in Zimbabwe
especially in light of the 30th anniversary of the ACRWC.

• ZNCWC hosted participants from all over Zimbabwe for the 2020 Annual Child Rights
Coalition Conference at King Solomon hotel in Kwekwe. 44 participants attended the
conference the first day (23M/21F). On the second day 47 people attended the conference
(25M/22F). The final day was attended by 45 people (25M/20F). Ten children from the
Kwekwe Junior Assembly (five boys and girls) participated in the Annual Child Rights
Coalition Conference. Participants consisted of members from the Junior Assembly such as
Councillors and Members of Parliament, stakeholders from government line ministries and
Senior Members of Parliament.

• The District Development Coordinator for Kwekwe gave the welcoming remarks for this
conference, he highlighted that the Annual Child Rights Coalition Conference provides
opportunities to continuously discuss about the state of child rights in Zimbabwe.

• Presentations were made on the following child rights issues:
o The Status of Alternative Care by SOS Children’s Villages

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o The Status of Child Online Safety in Light of COVID 19 by Childline
o Children’s Presentations by Kwekwe Junior parliament
o ACRWC Commemorations: Progress on the Implementation of ACRWC in Zimbabwe

by ZNCWC
o Status of Child Marriages in Zimbabwe and Access to Water by Shamwari

Yemwanasikana
o Children in Contact and Conflict with the Law by Justice for Children Trust
o Quality and Inclusive Education in the Era of COVID 19 by ECOZI
o Emergency Preparedness for Children with Disabilities by Deaf Zimbabwe Trust

• Emerging issues from the Conference

Key asks from children: Children highlighted the need to:
• Decentralize mental and drug and rehabilitation centres.
• Build children and youth recreational facilities in all communities.
• Ensure the Marriages Bill is passed into law criminalizing those who promote and marry off

their children.
• Provide adolescents with Comprehensive Sexuality Information and remove policy and

procedural barriers to SRHR access for adolescents and unmarried youths.
Key asks from civil society: the Civil Society Organizations raised 4 key asks as follows urging the
Government of Zimbabwe to:
• Establish a specific Ministry dealing with children- to be referred to as the Ministry of

Children that will be mandated to handle all matters pertaining to child rights and welfare
• Support and endorse the establishment of a Parliamentary Caucus on children whose terms

of reference would be developed
• Submit the outstanding State Party report to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare

of the Child as well as earnestly begin consultations on the UNCRC State Party report
• Call for the Accelerated Harmonization and alignment of child related laws notably the

Marriages Act; Children's Act that would address gaps in the current Act; Criminal law and
codification Act that would address gaps in sexual offences and Child Justice Bill to address
gaps in the justice system in relation to children amongst others

Figure 9: Kwekwe Junior Assembly presenting their key asks

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Figure 10: Hon Nyashanu, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, responding to key asks
presentations

Figure 11: ZNCWC Board Members and staff pose with Honorable MPs

Figure 12: Children follow proceedings at the Conference

4.3 Media Engagements

ZTN Covid 19 and Child Rights and Welfare Panel Discussion
• The 6 participants who took part in this discussion all agreed that the lockdown contributed
to curtailment of child rights and conversely a spike in abuses. The organizations
represented included ZNCWC, SAYWHAT and Deaf Zimbabwe Trust.
• ZNCWC emphasized and called upon Government to prioritize investing in children. Plan
raised the alarm on limited safe spaces of children indicating that as we gravitate towards
online communications and ways of doing business, most abuses will occur there hence
need for vigilant monitoring and safeguarding. Deaf Zimbabwe Trust bemoaned the systemic
exclusion of children with disabilities starting from the home. SAYWHAT indicated that it was
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imperative for children and young people to be informed about sexual reproductive health
issues and rights even during the lockdown and they have taken it upon themselves to
ensure that they utilise their existing platforms such as WhatsApp groups to inform the
people
• The Covid 19 pandemic has significantly exposed children to vulnerability particularly on
access to education. The discussion reflected on the view that efforts of continuing with the
learning process through electronic learning exposes disadvantaged children to further
vulnerability
• Recommendations included Support the disaster risk reduction plans available
• Improve monitoring of likely child abuse cases by capacitating communities on reporting
channels in case of abuse

ECOZI Awareness Raising Series on Education Amendment Act
• ECOZI, ZNCWC and other partners conducted ZBC TV recordings on raising awareness on the
new Education Amendment Act
• A team went round the Child Rights Coalition’s 5 regions, engaging with members in these
various regions on pertinent issues concerning the Education Act including free basic
education, education financing, second chance education, inclusive education and access to
SRHR information for children and young people
• Press releases were also done on various issues including the Education Amendment Act,
concerns of children in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic, and a communiqué on the
outcome of the Annual Child Rights Conference.

5.0 STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS/SUPPORT TO POLICY

INFLUENCING

ZNCWC participated in various stakeholder engagements and support to policy influencing though
the following:

CSO Complementary Reporting to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of
the Child

• With the support from Plan International African Union Liaison Office (Plan-AULO), and the
CSS project, ZNCWC coordinated the CSO complementary reporting to the ACERWC to
finalize the report

• The activities conducted were a follow up to the data collection and zero draft compilation
exercise that was concluded in 2019. The activities conducted in the period under review
included 5 regional consultative/validation exercises in the 5 Child Rights Coalition regions
and 1 national validation exercise

• The final draft of the CSO complementary report is completed, following the French
translation preparations will be made for sharing with Government partners and onward
submission to the ACERWC

• Support was also given through TDH, CSS project, Save the Children and other partners to
the consolidation of the Children’s Report, which as coordinated by the Regional Network
for Children and Young People’s Trust (RNCYPT) The final draft is also ready for translation
and dissemination.

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Figure 13: Manicaland Chapter members follow proceedings at the regional consultative meeting for the CSO report
to the ACERWC

Figure 14: Masvingo Chapter meeting for the validation of the CSO ACERWC report

National Implementation Plan of Action for Children
• ZNCWC and partners such as Plan International supported the government led process on
the development of the National Implementation Plan for Children, housed in the Ministry
of Health and Child Care
• The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) office
approached ZNCWC and relevant partners for civil society input into the process
• A drafting workshop was conducted in Marondera for the plan in November 2020. The plan
incorporated a strategic plan, monitoring and evaluation plan in line with national

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instruments such as the National Development Strategy (NDS1), the concluding observations
and recommendations from the UNCRC and ACERWC, as well as the SDGs
• The concluded document will be ready for dissemination in early 2021

Revision of the Zimbabwe Orphan Care Policy

• ZNCWC was also involved in the revision of the Zimbabwe Orphan Care Policy, which is also
a government led process housed in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social
Development

• The process, which is being supported by SOS, FOST among other partners, seeks to update
the policy which was developed in 1999. The policy was primarily focused on responding to
the needs of orphans and vulnerable children to HIV and AIDS when the country was
experiencing the worst brunt of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the 1990s and 2000s. It was
also focused on institutionalization of children/children in residential care

• The policy therefore requires updating to include new developments in the alternative care
system in Zimbabwe; to comply with the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children,
and to include kinship care, foster care and adoption guidelines

6.0 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

6.1 Organizational Policy Development

ZNCWC Memorandum of Understanding with Shanduko Yehupenyu and World Vision

• ZNCWC has since developed and signed an MOU with An MOU was signed with Shanduko
Yehupenyu Child Care for mutual benefit regarding resource mobilisation amongst others.

• A similar arrangement is being sought with World Vision. The UN Trust Fund call was made
with Shamwari Yemwanasikana and Shanduko Yehupenyu Child Care with the former being
the lead. Technical support was provided by VSO.

ZNCWC Memorandum of Understanding with Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation

• ZNCWC is in the process of renewing its MOU with the national broadcaster which had since
lapsed (2018-2019)

• The MOU will enable ZNCWC, representing the Child Rights Coalition and ZBC to ensure that
children’s issues are included in radio and television programming, including enforcement of
safe broadcasting guidelines for children. The new MOU will be for the 2020-2021 period.

• The drafting process of the MOU is in progress

Policy Strengthening
ZNCWC developed and revised new policies which include:

• Updating of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (2021-2023)
• Child friendly version and revision of its Child Safeguarding Policy
• Development of the complaints feedback and reporting mechanism
• Development of a book on “Effective Parenting” was completed and awaiting publication

6.2 Staff Capacity Building

Staff members were taken through a few capacity building sessions, which included the following:
• Capacity building in child safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, disability inclusion,
gender and risk management and financial management – supported by BMZ project

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7.0 CHALLENGES

• The COVID 19 pandemic was the biggest challenge the organization faced within its
operations as well as the child rights sector as a whole. This resulted in the organization
having to revise targets, operate within lockdown restrictions which limited contact with
primary actors, and switching to virtual activities which reduced burn-rate on project
budgets

• The organization still faces financial and resource constraints. Currently, there are only three
main projects (BMZ, TDH and PACT) and the end of the WEI project, within its operational
portfolio that are fully supporting ZNCWC’s activities. There are limited unrestricted funds to
cover administrative costs, and there are constraints regarding meeting salary costs.

• Slow pace of alignment of children’s laws – delay in harmonization of children’s laws with
the Constitution is creating gaps in terms of legal and policy implementation that favours
child rights.

• The state party report to the ACERWC still remains outstanding which has delayed the
submission of the CSO complementary report and the Children’s Report to the Committee.

8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

• Increased capacity in emergency programming: with the outbreak of COVID 19 in the
country in March 2020. ZNCWC was faced with addressing disaster preparedness, mitigation
and response mechanisms within the child rights sector.

• Key issues in child rights advocacy; the organization is still pushing for the state party report
to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the enactment
of the Marriages Bill, Child Justice Bill, and Children’s Amendment Bill, amongst others.

• Enhancing resource mobilization through consortiums, as well as exploring and
strengthening private sector/corporate partnerships, hence development of MOUs with
various organizations

• Budget realignment and continuous assessment of the COVID 19 pandemic to anticipate and
mitigate unplanned events such as the institution of lockdown restrictions, which resulted in
changes in programming approach

• Enhance evidence gathering and capturing of best practices in child rights advocacy, as well
as pursuing strategic partnerships with other like- minded organizations at national and
regional level to enhance networking and coordination to speed up the re-alignment process
of children’s laws

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