New Child Justice Bill gets support

Senior Reporter

WHILE the new Child Justice Bill, which sets up a new way of dealing with children who commit what would be crimes by an adult, received general support in the National Assembly on Wednesday, legislators were keen to debate possible improvements to widen the age range and ensure more effective treatment of child offenders.

The Bill will establish a child justice system for children in conflict with the law in accordance with the values and principles underpinning the Constitution and Zimbabwe’s international obligations.

The Bill, when passed, means that a child under the age of 12 years may not be arrested and must be dealt with in accordance with the Bill, which includes handing the child over to his or her parents.

Although legislators generally welcomed the Bill, some called for the upward adjustment of the age to 16.

“The age should be set at 16 in the same way one is allowed to obtain a driver’s licence when they reach 16,” Chegutu West legislator Cde Dexter Nduna said.

He also called for the revamping of reformatories and other rehabilitation centres for young offenders.

Harare East legislator Mr Tendai Biti also called for the upward adjustment of the age, suggesting 14.

He too wanted Government to invest more in probation and rehabilitation centres. Zanu PF Chief Whip Cde Pupurai Togarepi however, said the age of liability should remain at 12.

“If we don’t deal with the children when they are still young we will end up with generations of criminals and at 12, that is when they are starting to learn some of these crimes. What is critical now is to recommend to Government to come up with correctional facilities and employ psychologists and other experts for the rehabilitation of these young offenders,” he said.

Mbizo legislator Mr Settlement Chikwinya also expressed similar views.

“If we raise the age to 16, we will be creating a society that will be tolerant to crime in children.

“Where I come from, I have seen children as young as 10 committing serious crimes. Our neighbours have set the age of liability at 11.

“What is important is to teach them when they are young that if you commit a crime, you will be arrested,” he said.

Mr Chikwinya also recommended the establishment of robust rehabilitation centres.