Social department works on tackling challenges affecting children

THE Department of Social Development in Bulawayo is handling three new cases of child delinquency on a monthly basis where some of the minors are engaging in social misfit incidents including sodomy.

Exposure to pornographic material has been blamed for some of the emerging cases. Bulawayo Provincial Development Officer, Ms Energy Mlambo said while three cases per month may seem unalarming, the department is worried that there could be more cases happening but unregistered.

She was speaking during a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose orphanage to tackle challenges affecting children at the weekend.

Ms Mlambo said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has engaged her office in cases where children have committed criminal acts against their peers.

“In Bulawayo, we have a number of emerging issues affecting children. There is also the issue of drugs and substance abuse. We have some cases where children commit crime when they take drugs. They become violent and in some instances children engage in sexual activities. Some of them have a background of watching pornography and end up experimenting on other children,” said Ms Mlambo.

“We have noted issues of sodomy mostly by children coming from South Africa. They inherit that culture, which they bring back home and they end up doing this to other children within the schools and communities.”

She said when some of the cases emerge within the education sector, it points to the fact that cases are widespread across communities as some of the incidents go unrecorded.

“Per month, we are receiving about three cases and to us this is too high a number because we are dealing with different children every month. This means something is not right,” she said.

Ms Mlambo said some of the problems are caused by poor parenting as some learners come from child headed families while others live with elderly guardians who do not exert control over them.

She said the department is also working towards removing children living on the streets. “To address these challenges, we are doing community awareness programmes. We are also engaging parents and guardians during various activities in communities.

We also do awareness campaigns among our children in our schools so that they avoid certain platforms, which are not good for them like watching pornography, which is leading to some of them attempting to practice what they would have seen on other children,” she said.

“Some of the parents and guardians are even coming to us when their children are showing behavioural challenges. They approach the Department of Social Development so that we assist the children. When we receive a report, we provide the required support and counsel them to try and address these behavioural challenges.”

Ms Mlambo said the department also resorts to institutionalisation of children when home remedies do not seem to be effective.

Speaking during the same event, Zanu-PF Magwegwe-Lobengula shadow MP, Cde Menziwa Dube said it was worrying to learn that children were involved in misfit and criminal activities.

He said despite the migration, which comes with family disintegration, there is need for society to uphold family values of Ubuntu.

“Growing up, I remember that as a child I respected all adults as my parents but as a society we have become more individualistic, which in turn is now affecting our children.

Our vision is that through this orphanage, we can restore the values of Ubuntu in our children. But to do it effectively we will need support from the community, that is why we have decided to build this facility within the community,” he said.

Cde Dube donated an industrial brick maker to support the construction of the orphanage, which will also serve to equip young people with life skills.

He said drugs and substance abuse are threatening the country’s future and communities should work with the Government to eradicate the scourge.

“As the President has said, ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo, we cannot build the nation when our youth are high on drugs. Let’s work together and contribute to the development of the country through inspiring our youth to be better people,” he said. — @nqotshili.