Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu
Senior Reporter
AT least US$2,4 billion has been set aside for the National Action Plan for Children IV (2026–2030), a comprehensive four-year strategy aimed at safeguarding minors and tackling various challenges they face countrywide.
The plan will be implemented through collaboration between the Government and development partners such as the United Nations and private sector stakeholders.
It targets critical issues, including child labour, online violence and child marriages, among other challenges confronting Zimbabwe’s children.
Speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said Cabinet approved the plan to be implemented between 2026 and 2030 to align with various national, regional and international frameworks.
“Under the Second Republic, Government of Zimbabwe is committed to protecting children’s rights and ensuring they enjoy a dignified childhood through the development of National Action Plans,” Minister Soda said.
“The current plan aims to improve children’s well-being by employing evidence-based methods and fostering multi-sectoral collaboration.
Its goals include enhancing access to quality services, strengthening protection mechanisms, increasing community capacity, reducing child labour and ensuring effective policy enforcement.
“The plan addresses emerging challenges such as child labour, poverty and online violence, targeting vulnerable groups including orphans and girls who face the risk of child marriage.”
The plan was structured around five pillars, with some of the intended outcomes including increased access to services, reducing harm and empowering families.
“The plan aligns with national, regional and international frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Zimbabwe’s legal statutes,” he added.
“Additionally, the plan will be linked to the local child protection policies and legislation. The plan is structured around five pillars, namely: improved access to inclusive basic social services; ending violence against children; family and community capacity strengthening; elimination of child labour; and institutional strengthening and capacity building.
“The plan sets specific outcomes aimed at increasing access to services, reducing harm, empowering families, eradicating child labour and enhancing enforcement.”
Minister Soda said cross-cutting issues encompassing gender, disability and climate change were also integrated across all pillars.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo said coordination for monitoring and evaluation will be done through ministries and agencies.
“The budget is over US$2.4 billion over five years. This budget is going to be catered for through allocations on a yearly basis and it is going to be funded through United Nations agencies, development partners and the private sectors. All have been assigned different responsibilities over the next five years.
“In terms of coordination, the national action plan assigns different responsibilities to different entities, ministries, departments and agencies. The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare coordinates this plan and there is also a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that has been included in the matrix so that the whole thing is coordinated, executed, monitored and evaluated.”
