I.
INTRODUCTION
1. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
(ACERWC/the Committee) extends its compliments to the Government of Zimbabwe
and wishes to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the initial report on the status
of the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
(the African Children's Charter, the Charter). The ACERWC, during its 25^^ Ordinary
Session, which was held from 20-24 April 2015, considered Zimbabwe's initial report
which was submitted in accordance with the State Parties obligation under Article 43
of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
2. The Committee takes note of the written replies to its list of issues and commends
the State Party for its delegation led by His Excellency, Senator Dr. P. D.
Parirenyatwa, Minister of Health and Child Care for the open and constructive
dialogue.
3. The Committee notes with appreciation that the State Party ratified the African
Children's Charter and took various initiatives to implement the rights and duties
enshrined in the Charter. However, the Committee regrets that the report was
submitted with considerable delay, which prevented the Committee from reviewing
the implementation of the Charter by Zimbabwe for some years after the ratification.
II.
PROGRESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHARTER
4. The Committee commends the State Party among others on the following
achievements;
a. For ratifying various international and regional human rights instruments;
b. For incorporating the rights of children in the newly enacted Constitution;
c. For enacting the Children's Act of 1972;
d. For enacting the Education Act of 2006;
e. For establishing Food and Nutrition and Security Committees;
f.
For crafting the Pre-trial Diversion Program, the Victim Friendly System,
the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable children, the Basic
Education Assistance Module ; and
g. For enacting the Trafficking in Persons Act.
III.
AREAS OF CONCERN AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. General measures of Implementation