Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare yesterday hosted children of public servants under an initiative meant to address their well-being.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry’s Gender Mainstreaming Inclusivity and Wellness director, Ms Ruvarashe Chigiya-Mujeni, focused on critical areas including child protection, drug and substance abuse awareness, national heritage and career guidance.
In an interview, Ms Mujeni highlighted the pressing need for such an intervention.
“It is the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare that deals with issues of social protection,” she said.
“We found out that most of the time we are busy working for the people as public servants and in most cases, our children are left behind.”
She bemoaned the erosion of traditional support systems.
“In the past, we had the aunts, the tetes, the sekurus who would take care of our children when we were away,” she said.
“But nowadays, because of migration, globalisation, people are moving everywhere. And we find that when most of our workers are at work, their children are left alone.”
The programme featured presentations from various departments.
Detectives from the drug and substance abuse section engaged the children on the dangers and impacts of drug use, while the child protection department educated them on their rights, child abuse and reporting mechanisms for bullying and abuse.
A career guidance section also provided insights into career development.
“We also decided that because of the issues of drug and substance abuse, the ministry must be connected to the drug and substance section…we found it very necessary to invite the detectives to talk to our children,” she said.
The initiative also included a visit to the National Heroes Acre and national monuments to instil a sense of national heritage.
Ms Mujeni underscored the importance of this comprehensive approach.
“Like I said before, we no longer have the tetes and the sekurus performing their tasks as they used to, we are now the tetes and sekurus of our time.”
With schools reopening next week, the ministry hopes the programme will equip the children with essential knowledge and confidence.
“Now they (public service workers) are in their offices, they are working, but they are very comfortable knowing that by the time we finish these discussions, their children will be knowledgeable about child abuse, child protection, career guidance, leadership and grooming,” Ms Mujeni said.
