‘Community workers need Government, partner support’

Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter

 THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the capacity of Community Childcare Workers (CCWs) through improving their mobility so that they effectively respond to critical child protection concerns in their respective communities as it moves to ensure safe spaces for all children.

Speaking during a handover ceremony of 207 bicycles to CCWs in Mangwe and Bulilima districts in Matabeleland South Province, the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Adv Mercy Dinha said the Government was going to ensure that the work of community childcare workers was made easy through provision of resources. The bicycles were given courtesy of the Government and its development partners, Save the Children and USAID.

“This support from development partners, Save the Children in particular, hugely builds community capacity to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against children through linking them with key prevention and response services. The establishment of community-level child protection structures through the work of CCWs helps to facilitate cross-border case management, and Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) particularly in the two districts which grapple with cases of children on the move,” said deputy minister Dinha.

Guided by the national case management system for the welfare and protection of children, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said they strive to foster collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure the full realisation and protection of children’s rights.

She said the CCWs cadres need to be capacitated with adequate tools of the trade which enable them to effectively serve their communities. Save the Children country director Mr Bhekimpilo Khanye said the development would not have been possible without the generous support from the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance under the integrated nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and protection programme.

“This marks a significant milestone in strengthening the community child protection structures through the provision of bicycles to our dedicated community childcare workers. This is to empower them with improved mobility to effectively address critical child protection issues within their communities.

“Save the Children has embraced a new approach to delivering change for children in Zimbabwe, through its localisation agenda, which aims to shift power to local and national actors, communities, and children. Supporting childcare workers in fulfilling their responsibilities is a crucial step towards localisation,” said Mr Khanye.

He said Save the Children cherishes the longstanding relationship with the Government as they strive towards realising the nation’s development ambitions as outlined in National Development Strategy 1. Mr Khanye said Save the Children’s vision was to create a world where all children survive, learn, and were protected which aligns with the efforts of the Government towards improving the lives of children.

“The Government has ratified various instruments that seek to promote and protect children’s rights which include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACRWC). The Government continues showing commitment to upholding children’s rights through legislature and actionable policies. Some efforts include the cross-border coordination initiative with Botswana, South Africa, and Mozambique. This has resulted in the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures on the safe handling of unaccompanied migrant children between countries,” he added.

The country director paid tribute to CCWs for their tireless commitment to ensuring that children live in safe and peaceful environs saying they were the true heroes of the communities, and their invaluable work does not go unnoticed.

Bulilima Rural District Council chairperson Mr Land Ndebele said CCWs play a pivotal role in development.

“From a layman’s point of view, this organisation is for the people. I am saying this because in the villages they have CCWs, if you happen to come across one of them they will tell you the number of children, women, men, and even the number of boreholes that are in the villages. They have all the information that one may need especially for rural development. Looking at these bicycles, I am so delighted because I know that now they will be able to move from one homestead to another. I am grateful to Save the Children for the gesture,” he said.

@NyembeziMu