Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT is working on repatriating over 200 Zimbabwean children who are in care homes in South Africa after being smuggled into the neighbouring country to visit their parents and guardians.
Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Simon Masanga, said this while briefing two parliamentary portfolio committee members in Bulawayo recently.
Members of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals were in the city undergoing an induction workshop on how to perform an oversight role on the ministry.
“We have a big challenge when it comes to the movement of minor children from Zimbabwe into South Africa.
“You are aware that some parents may have migrated from Zimbabwe but their children remain back home with relatives. During school holidays, these children are invited to South Africa, some of them are documented, but they stay past several days,” said Mr Masanga.
“Since the parents would want to spend some time with their children in South Africa they utilise what are commonly known as omalayitsha to take the children to South Africa. This is very dangerous, particularly for the safety of the children, because they are putting children into the hands of strangers who may end up abusing these children.”
He said while some of the children find their way across the border into South Africa, others are intercepted on highways by authorities.
“As I interact with you today, we have more than 200 children in care institutions in South Africa, and we are working closely with our friends in South Africa to repatriate these children back home.
“We are just identifying safe forms for these children to arrive at as we try to unite them with their extended families,” said the permanent secretary.
Meanwhile, Mr Masanga said around 400 private voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations are operating in the country illegally. He said the Government will soon publish a list of those operating illegally so that they regularise their documents or risk being shut down.
“Government is in the process of enacting a new law, the private voluntary organisation bill, which will regulate operations of the PVO and NGOs.
“The bill, which had sailed through Parliament was sent back by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after the sector made representation before it was signed into law,” he said. “All we are trying to do is to encourage compliance by NGOs, both local and international, to our local laws, and I’m sure this time around, as it passes through Parliament, we will not have any issues.
He said if the organisations do not comply they will be deregistered.
“This will be done in a very transparent manner and all I’m encouraging those that are going to appear on the list that will be on radio, television and our print media, is just to comply.
“We administer the law, and anyone who does not comply with the law will be dealing with the study,” said Mr Masanga.
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