LIFE for the average Zimbabwean family is an uphill struggle.
Meagre salaries battle against the rising cost of living, leaving many families in poverty.
Parents are forced to make difficult choices to survive, often turning to their children for support. For some, this means sending their young ones to the streets to sell.
Children as young as nine can be seen selling snacks at sports facilities, shopping centres, bars, bus termini and various areas in and around the central business district (CBD).
Seeing young children, visibly impoverished, dressed in tattered clothing and begging motorists and pedestrians to buy their wares is a heart-wrenching sight.
Tragically, their families’ survival depends on the income these children generate. Profits from vending often put food on the table and provide school supplies for those fortunate enough to remain in school.
While these children understand their families’ dire financial circumstances and want to help, their contributions come at a cost.
Child vendors are exposed to environments that jeopardise their socio-psychological, physical and mental well-being.
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They encounter foul language, unruly behaviour and inappropriate attitudes from the people they interact with daily.
Additionally, the dangers of exposure to drugs, criminal activity and sexual exploitation are harsh realities these children face.
The Zimbabwean Constitution explicitly enshrines children’s rights to protection from “economic and sexual exploitation, child labour, maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse”.
Both State and non-State actors are obligated to safeguard these rights and ensure children’s safety and well-being. Despite these provisions, the environments where children are sent to vend often become breeding grounds for rights violations.
For example, criminals may lure children into illegal activities, promising a quicker escape from poverty than hawking.
Naïve and vulnerable, some children may end up in crime, further exacerbating their families’ struggles.
Areas like the open-air entertainment joint kwaMereki in Harare’s Warren Park D suburb exemplify these dangers.
During weekends, the area is a hive of activity, attracting people from various walks of life.
It is not uncommon for unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of child vendors, leading to incidents of kidnapping, abuse or even murder.
The CBD, while lucrative for business, remains equally perilous for children due to its chaotic nature and the predatory behaviour of some individuals.
Admark Moyo, a lawyer and academic, highlights in his piece The Legal Status of Children’s Rights in Zimbabwe that children’s rights are among the least contentious human rights globally, particularly concerning protection from violence, exploitation and abuse.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s Constitution and the Children’s Act both prohibit economic exploitation and other forms of abuse, making it a punishable offence to use children for begging or income-generating work that keeps them from school.
However, many children are denied a voice in decisions affecting their lives. They are often viewed as incapable of rational decision-making, a perception rooted in societal, cultural and educational norms that undervalue children’s ability to think and act independently.
This mindset further compounds the violation of their constitutional rights, which include access to education, healthcare, nutrition and shelter.
These rights are essential for fostering a child’s physical and intellectual development. Yet, child vendors often drop out of school and have their health compromised in hazardous environments.
The Constitution underscores children’s socio-economic rights, reflecting a commitment to international legal standards. It imposes direct and indirect obligations on parents, families and the State, as well as non-State actors, to respect and uphold these rights.
The supremacy of the Constitution demands that these obligations be taken seriously when making decisions impacting children’s lives.
Ultimately, while the Constitution provides a good framework for protecting children, its principles must be translated into action.
The rights of children must not only exist on paper but also be actively upheld, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive without fear or exploitation.
To ensure that children are not forced onto the streets to sell, it is crucial to address the root causes of poverty and provide families with decent livelihoods.
This necessitates a multi-sectoral approach, including creating sustainable employment opportunities, implementing viable social welfare programmes and increasing investment in education and community development.
Government policies must prioritise economic stability and support for vulnerable families, while NGOs and private sector actors can contribute by empowering communities through skills development and income-generating initiatives.
As a society, we must collectively reject the normalisation of children engaging in vending, recognising that this practice deprives them of the right to education and a safe childhood. Instead, children should be at home or in school, building their futures in environments that nurture their intellectual, emotional and physical development.
- Tendai Makaripe is an academic, media trainer and children’s rights advocate. He writes here in his personal capacity.
