Online Reporter
Zimpapers Reporters
AT least US$2,4 billion has been allocated for the National Action Plan for Children IV (2026–2030), a comprehensive four year programme aimed at protecting minors and addressing a wide range of challenges affecting children across the country.
The plan will be implemented through a partnership between the Government, United Nations agencies and private sector stakeholders.
It targets critical issues such as child labour, online violence and child marriages, among other vulnerabilities affecting Zimbabwean children.
Speaking at the post Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said Cabinet had approved the plan, which will run from 2026 to 2030, aligning it with national, regional and international child protection frameworks.
“Under the Second Republic, Government of Zimbabwe is committed to protecting children’s rights and ensuring they enjoy a dignified childhood through the development of National Action Plans.
The current plan aims to improve children’s well-being by employing evidence-based methods and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration.
“Its goals include enhancing access to quality services, strengthening protection mechanisms, increasing community capacity, reducing child labour and ensuring effective policy enforcement.
The plan addresses emerging challenges such as child labour, poverty and online violence, targeting vulnerable groups including orphans and girls who face the risk of child marriage,” Minister Soda said.
The plan is structured around five pillars, with expected outcomes including improved service access, reduced harm and strengthened family capacity.
“The plan aligns with national, regional and international frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Zimbabwe’s legal statutes.
“Additionally, the plan will be linked to the local child protection policies and legislation.
“The plan is structured around five pillars, namely: improved access to inclusive basic social services; ending violence against children; family and community capacity strengthening; elimination of child labour; and institutional strengthening and capacity building.
“The plan sets specific outcomes aimed at increasing access to services, reducing harm, empowering families, eradicating child labour and enhancing enforcement.”
Minister Soda said cross cutting issues such as gender, disability and climate change were incorporated across all five pillars.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation would be carried out through Government ministries and agencies.
“The budget is over US$2,4 billion over five years. This budget is going to be catered for through allocations on a yearly basis and it is going to be funded through United Nations agencies, development partners and the private sectors. All have been assigned different responsibilities over the next five years.
“In terms of co-ordination, the national action plan assigns different responsibilities to different entities, ministries, departments and agencies. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare co-ordinates this plan and there is also a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that has been included in the matrix so that the whole thing is co-ordinated, executed, monitored and evaluated.”
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu