Poverty, Inequality “Biggest Drivers” Of Child Labour In Zimbabwe

The Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) says poverty and inequality remain the biggest factors driving Zimbabwean children into work.

Speaking at the National Child Protection Conference in Bulawayo, EMCOZ executive director Nesta Mukwehwa said eliminating child labour requires more than labour regulations alone.

She argued that lasting solutions must tackle the underlying conditions that compel children to seek work.

“We acknowledge that the root cause of child labour, especially in our country, is linked to inequalities and poverty at the household level. Children are often driven into work because families are struggling to make ends meet,” Mukwehwa said.

She said employers, the government and labour unions are working through tripartite structures to strengthen policies that protect children from exploitation, including emerging risks linked to the digital economy.

Mukwehwa also called for stronger social protection programmes. She questioned whether initiatives such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) are reaching every child in need.

“While educational support is important, it can not fully address the problem if families continue to face food insecurity and economic hardship. The child may remain in school, but if there is no food at home, they may still be pushed into work,” she said.

Teenage pregnancies and child marriages remain a concern, Mukwehwa said, adding that programmes backed by the National AIDS Council are already under way in some communities to promote awareness and protect at-risk children.

“We hope these programs can be scaled up across the country so that more communities benefit, helping to reduce teenage pregnancies, prevent child marriages, and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice,” she said.

The conference, running from 7 to 10 July, is organised by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare with support from the Government of Sweden and in partnership with UNICEF.

It has brought together government ministries, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector, academia, regional delegates and children.

The participants seek to strengthen child protection systems, improve multisectoral coordination and mobilise sustained investment in safeguarding children against emerging protection risks.

_ZiFM Stereo_

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