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The Herald September 21, 1994
PARENTS of street children caught sniffing glue will be charged under the Child Protection and Adoption Act, police have said.
Supt Luke Huni said in Harare yesterday that police were going to try and locate the parents of those children caught taking the substance and charge them for failing to take care of their children.
So far no one has been prosecuted as the police had not caught the street children sniffing glue.
“Glue is not a drug. But if anyone is caught taking the substance and they are over the age of 18, they can be charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.”
Glue sniffing has become increasingly rife among street children in Harare and their attitude towards members of the public has become more violent.
Child vagrants, some as young as nine, have taken up the habit and they sniff glue from milk packets pretending to be drinking milk.
Asked why he sniffed glue, one of the street kids said: “It makes me feel happy. After all, everybody is doing it.”
They buy it from hardware stores. This is worrying members of the public as the street kids tend to be violent when begging for food and money.
“Because of glue, these children are now demanding money and food from people instead of asking politely. I have witnessed an incident where a group of these youngsters tore a lady’s blouse demanding that she give them the food she was holding,” said Mr Kudzai Nyoni of Avondale.
He felt police should step up patrols in the streets, especially in the city centre.
Something has to be done urgently because the streets are becoming unsafe.
Mr Brighton Matsaira of Emerald Hill said one of his car’s headlights was smashed recently by a mob of “drunk” child vagrants after he refused to give them money.
“I urge people to stop giving these children money because they will not use it wisely. The best thing they can do is to give them food.”
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- Parents are supposed to be the custodians of their children until they become of age. Parents are responsible for the welfare of their children as well as ensuring that they grow up as responsible citizens. If a child grows up to be an errant person, it usually reflects on the parents.
- At law, if a parent fails to keep their child in check they can be charged with vicarious liability, or imputed liability, which is an indirect liability for the actions of another person, such as a subordinate or child.
- While it is common to blame the parents for a child behaviour or misdemeanour, the responsibility of raising a child, especially in the African context is the responsibility of the whole community hence the proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child”. Efforts to address some of the challenges in society such as drug abuse or the abuse of substances such as glue are being hampered by the failure to mobilise community support.
Online Reporter