Child labour - Domestic Work. Photo Credit: Anti-Slavery International
With laws in place, children remain at risk of exploitation as circumstances push them into work – most face abuse and remain silent.
Onita Sibanda
Hwange – Marvelous Mwinde, a 21-year-old young woman, is a survivor of child exploitation in domestic work. Growing up in Binga, Marvelous was unable to continue her education beyond grade seven due to financial constraints.
“I completed my grade seven at 14, life was tough in the rural areas. I saw many girls my age getting pregnant, some were leaving for towns to find work. It was then, when I decided to visit my aunt in Hwange, hoping to find better opportunities,” she recalled.
Child domestic work is rife in Hwange, with many children under the age of 18 years being exploited and forced into labour. Findings by UNICEF show that, children are forced to engage in work due to circumstances. Poverty, child headed families, abuse at home and orphanhood are some of the drivers.
“My aunt, a single mother of three was struggling to make ends meet as a vendor. She found me a job as a child minder and I had to move in with the family. At first, the woman was hesitant to hire me because of my young age. But, I begged her for the opportunity knowing it might be my only chance,” added Marvelous.
Children are not permitted to work in Zimbabwe. The employment of Children is expressly forbidden by both the Labour Act and the Children’s Act. These legal measures seek to defend children’s rights, keep them safe and healthy, and keep them from being coerced into dangerous jobs. They also seek to shield children from exploitation and abuse. Zimbabwe has taken a significant step in safeguarding its youngest residents from exploitation and abuse by outlawing child domestic labour.
Despite the legal protection, child domestic work remains a persistent and alarming issue nationwide, highlighting the need for continued efforts to enforce these laws and protect vulnerable children.
In the case of Marvelous, work became too much for her, not only because of the heavy workload, but she received constant insults. With no prior knowledge in babysitting, she faced a steep learning experience and was frequently scolded for her mistakes. Her days were filled with exhausting tasks. She was responsible for cleaning, cooking, laundry, and caring for a nine months old baby.
“I struggled to fulfil my duties and to make matters worse my salary was often incomplete or delayed. I had hoped to continue my education but it seemed like an impossible dream as I couldn’t save enough money. The little I earned was barely enough to support myself let alone send some back to my parents in Binga. I felt trapped and helpless,” she lamented.
According to Laina Dube, a resident in Hwange, community members are aware of the situation, but they are reluctant to report to the authorities.
“Child domestic work is a pervasive issue in our community but it’s challenging to confront those who employ children especially since many of them work for the government,” said Dube.
“You can’t simply confront someone who has hired a child and complain, it’s a delicate matter. They might say, she’s their relative while it is clear the child is not being treated well. It is disheartening to see people who know the law turning a blind eye.”
Dube acknowledged, that the drivers of child domestic work are unfortunate situations in life. But, despite all that, these children work under harsh conditions for a minimal salary. She believes true help can break the cycle of poverty and exploitation faced by these children.
“Those who employ children as child minders should be held accountable and face the law,” declares Phineas Munenge, a concerned resident. “It’s disappointing that people try to save money by exploiting young girls, paying them less than US$50 per month without any regard for their well being. This is nothing short of exploitation and is utterly unacceptable. It’s a form of modern day slavery, and we must not tolerate it.”
Munenge said that such practice has severe consequences including the risk of harm to the children in their care.
“We’ve heard cases of maids being arrested for kidnapping or even killing babies often motivated by promises of large sums of money. By employing children, people are inviting problems into their homes. Instead, they should prioritise the well being and safety of their children and seek out qualified, experienced caregivers,” he added.
A recent research by UNICEF revealed that child domestic workers like Marvelous face a myriad of challenges that can have long lasting impacts on their well being. These children often work excessively long hours in demanding roles leaving them vulnerable to physical and emotional abuse as well as sexual exploitation. Fearing losing their jobs they suffer in silence only speaking out when the situation becomes unbearable.
Isolated from their families and friends they have limited freedom leading to psychological trauma and mental health issues. Moreover, they have restricted access to education and personal development opportunities further hindering their potential.
Speaking to The Besana Mail, Anna Mandizha Ncube, Director of Buwalo Malaliko Trust, an organization that works to address gender based violence, said while they do not directly address child domestic work or child labour issues, the organisation works with other stakeholders.
“We refer such cases to social welfare and the ZRP’s Victims Friendly Unit. We sensitise the community about the illegality of promoting child labour, providing children for labour purposes and the illegality of engaging any person below 18 years in workplaces,” said Mandizha.
However, she acknowledged that there is child headed households or children in difficult circumstances with no extended family support.
“As far we cannot ignore the poverty in our communities. As an organization, we don’t encourage child labour for economic gain,” she added.
Ncube highlighted the challenges in addressing child domestic work particularly in poverty stricken communities where families rely on children for income.
“The greatest challenge is ensuring a family or community has a source of livelihood before disengaging of children from work. They will probably revert to work in no time.”
