Children in conflict with the law
44. The Committee is highly concerned by the fact that the age of criminal responsibility
for children is set at the age of 7 years. The Committee is also concerned about the
absence of legal guarantee to protect juvenile offenders from being sentenced to life.
The Committee, therefore, restating its recommendation under paragraph 13, urges the
State Party to raise the minimum of age of criminal responsibility to the international
standard of the age of 12 years and to legally guarantee that children are not sentenced
to life. Further, the Committee recommends the State Party to establish juvenile courts
throughout the country and strengthen the already existing ones through training of its
officials on child rights issues and recruitment of psychologists and social workers.
45. In addition, the Committee recommends the Government of Zimbabwe to facilitate
for separate detention of juvenile offenders from adult offenders, to introduce diversion
programs in the criminal justice system and to establish rehabilitation centers for
children in conflict with the law. In its effort to improve the criminal justice system for
children, the Committee recommends the State Party to refer to the Guidelines on
Action for Children in the Justice System in Africa.
Children of Imprisoned Mothers and care givers
46. The Committee appreciates the efforts of the State Party to respect the rights of
children of incarcerated mothers by discouraging the custody of expecting and nursing
mothers, establishment of day care center in the females' prison, and taking the
initiative to introduce an open prison. With this regard, the Committee recommends the
State Party to make reference and use as a guideline the Committee's General
Comment on article 30 of the African Children's Charter in its actions aimed at
addressing the need of children of imprisoned mothers.
Economic Exploitation and Child labor
47. The Committee commends the State Party for protecting children from child labor
under the Children's Act and the Labor Act. However, the Committee is concerned by
the rise of child labor in Zimbabwe including in its worst form. Therefore, the Committee
recommends the Government of Zimbabwe to implement the relevant laws by ensuring
that the minimum age of child labor and hazardous works is respected; to strengthen its
inspection mechanisms; prosecute individuals and companies that engage children in
worst forms of child labor; introduce corporate social responsibility for the private sector;
in collaboration with development partners to scale up the implementation of social
welfare programs; and review existing programs aimed at addressing child labor and
economic exploitation of children.