The Zimbabwean government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating child labour saying protecting children from exploitation remains central to the country's development agenda and international human rights obligations.
Speaking at the 6th Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour held in Marrakech, Morocco last week, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mercy Dinha said ending child labour was a key national priority.
Addressing delegates during the Africa Ministers' Panel Session, Dinha said Zimbabwe's strategy is firmly embedded in long-term national planning frameworks including Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 2 (2026-2030) and the National Action Plan for Children.
"The Government of Zimbabwe approaches the elimination of child labour not as a peripheral welfare concern, but as a core pillar of national transformation anchored in Vision 2030 our commitment to building an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society by the year 2030," she said.
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Dinha said the government's approach goes beyond policy statements and is guided by inclusive development principles.
"Central to this vision is His Excellency the President's mantra of 'leaving no one and no place behind.' That principle is not rhetorical; it is operational. It demands that every child rural or urban, girl or boy, able-bodied or living with disability must be protected from exploitation and enabled to realize their full potential. The elimination of child labour is therefore inseparable from our national development philosophy", Dinha told delegates.
She said Zimbabwe was pursuing reforms aimed at safeguarding children's rights while promoting inclusive economic growth, emphasising that children should be learning rather than working in dangerous environments.
Child labour, she noted, often cuts across borders through global production systems, requiring coordinated monitoring and stronger continental cooperation.
"Zimbabwe stands ready to contribute to such continental accountability architecture and to transparently report on progress under Vision 2030, NDS2 and our National Action Plan for Children," she said.
Reaffirming the country's long-term goal, Dinha added:
"In the spirit of leaving no one and no place behind, we reaffirm our commitment that by 2030, Zimbabwe's children will be in in classrooms, in training centres, in safe communities not in hazardous workplaces."
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Zimbabwe says it aims to translate policy commitments into measurable outcomes as part of broader efforts to improve child protection and advance sustainable national development.
