US$15m shot in arm for children

Herald Reporter
Government has intensified efforts to ensure all children live in a safe, secure and supportive environment by 2020, a Cabinet minister has said.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche said this in a speech read on his behalf by a senior official in the ministry, Mr Togarepi Chinake, after the official signing ceremony of a US$15 million facility from the Swedish Embassy in Zimbabwe to assist children in the country.

Minister Goche said between 2014 and 2017, his ministry would focus on child protection and social inclusion to address childhood vulnerabilities.

“This clearly resonates and complements the vision of the National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme phase 11, which is that by 2020 all children in Zimbabwe will live in safe, secure and supportive environment that is conducive to child growth and development,” he said.

Minister Goche said his ministry was restructured with departments of public services, labour and social welfare being merged.
Further, the department of child welfare and probation services had been created.

“It is my hope that this support will be extended to and complements the efforts of this noble department,” he said.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Lars Ronnas said the new financial commitment was not tied to any specific programme and could be used where Government saw fit.

Zimbabwe is signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which deals with children’s rights to education, health, protection from abuse neglect and exploitation.