PUBLIC Service deputy minister Tongai Muzenda told Parliament last week that government had set up a multi-sectoral fund to rehabilitate street children and place them under foster homes.
BY VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
Muzenda made the remarks on Wednesday after Zanu PF MP for Zaka North Robson Mavhenyengwa demanded to know if government had any immediate plans to curb the influx of street children into major urban centres, especially Harare and Bulawayo.
Mavhenyengwa said street children had become a menace not only to pedestrians and shoppers, but have also disrupted the free flow of traffic.
Said Muzenda: “Government set up a street children’s fund in conjunction with civic societies to finance rehabilitation of children in the streets and in the 2014 budget $40 000 was allocated to the fund and it is hoped disbursements will be released soon to facilitate the removal and rehabilitation, as well as placement of those children in foster homes.”
“HIV/Aids is the main factor which has caused street children influx as their parents died and the streets have become their home and source of income,” he added.
Muzenda said local authorities had also set up multi-sectoral-taskforces to move the children from the streets and allot them a safe environment.
“In 2013, through an effort by the ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police), Department of Social Welfare and civic society, 102 children were taken out of the street and taken to institutions or re-united with their families. The children are under BEAM (Basic Education Assistance Module) support for education and healthcare support, which includes programmes like psycho support and counselling,” he said.
