Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Child Protection Committees in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study aimed at satisfying the following objectives; to determine the knowledge levels of children on roles of Child Protection Committees in relation to offering services for children on the move, to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of Child Protection Committees in dealing with children on the move and to develop recommendations that influence policy in dealing with children on the move and offer appropriate guidance in dealing and handling child migrants. The study was influenced by the functionalist theory and therefore sought to assess the roles of Child Protection Committees in relation to children on the move in Zimbabwe using a case study of Chipinge district. The choice of Chipinge district has been occasioned by its proximity to Mozambique and South Africa and the massive movement of children to these countries despite the existence of Child Protection Committees. A descriptive cross section study design was employed with mixed methods for data collection. Purposive sampling was used to select participants from thirty-eight (38) Child Protection Committee members and thirty-eight (38) Child returnees who constituted the study population. The child returnee's ages ranged from 12 to 18 years. These were drawn from the thirty-eight (38) wards of Chipinge district. Structured interview schedules were used in conducting the study and the District Department of Child Welfare and Probation Services Officer was also interviewed as a key informant. Whilst 67 participants (80%) noted that there are Child Protection Committees in the communities are ineffective in their roles of curbing child migration. The study revealed that there are limited capacities and competencies amongst the members of Child Protection Committees in dealing with issues of child migration leading to compromised service delivery. Attributable factors to the ineffectiveness included poor knowledge on child protection issues, lack of training and mentorship for continual learning, resource constraints, and lack of motivation and unstandardized selection criteria of committee members. The study recommends implementation of sound management strategies such as stakeholder participation and capacity enhancement for Child Protection Committees to curb child migration.