Published by the government of Zimbabwe
31 August 2007
Harare — Zimbabwe will this year host the international march against child labour as various stakeholders step up efforts to protect children against child forced labour.
More than 150 people above the age of 14 are expected to walk 525km, a distance spanning from Harare to Plumtree between December 1 and 31. In an interview yesterday, New Hope Foundation spokesperson Mr Adam Dodzo said Zimbabwe was accorded for the first time by the Global March Organisation an opportunity to highlight various child-related concerns which include child labour.
Mr Dodzo said Zimbabwe, like various other countries from the developing world, was not spared from incidences of child labour, which is more significant in farming and mining areas. "This year the one-month campaign will unravel various child-related issues and also provide a platform from where concerns around the development of children are to be discussed," Mr Dodzo said.
He said his organisation hopes to facilitate debate and sharing of ideas on what steps should be taken to redress issues of child labour. Child experts yesterday said the HIV and Aids pandemic had worsened the plight of many child-headed homes with some children opting to work to look after other siblings.
Some children as young as 12, they said, were working as housemaids, herding cattle or as general farm labourers in order to sustain their livelihoods.
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