Day 4 of the Training of New Social Development Officers, started off with focused deliberations on child protection, unpacking the role of the Child Protection Officer in practice.
Officers examined how to identify risks, coordinate multi-sectoral responses and uphold the rights and safety of children in line with Zimbabwe’s legal and policy frameworks.
The session reinforced that effective child protection requires both technical knowledge and a commitment to act swiftly, ethically and in the best interests of every child.
#SocialDevelopment #ChildProtection
At #MIDSA2025, Ministers from across Southern Africa renewed their commitment to strengthen regional migration governance, underscoring that effective management relies on cooperation, dialogue, and shared solutions to drive growth and unity across the region.
Hon Edgar Moyo met with SOS Children's Villages Zimbabwe, led by Director Senait Gebrezabier Bayessa. They discussed childcare reforms, reintegration processes & strengthening community-based social protection. Together creating a Zimbabwe fit for Children
Child protection & safeguarding is a collective effort. We all play a role in creating a society where every child can thrive & enjoy childhood. Join us as we unpack all you need to know to be part of the movement of creating a Zimbabwe fit for children, on @classic263 at 715am
@ndebvudzaishe@nickmangwana The Children’s Act [Chapter 5:06] was amended in 2023, and the definition of a child was aligned to the constitution. Following the amendment of the Criminal Law, the two pieces of legislation now speak to each other.
Key discussions taking place at the workshop to develop framework to #EndTeenPregancy
During panel discussion Acting Deputy Director @OMpslsw Mr Amos Paungano says strengthening social protection mechanisms is key to address #TeenPregnancies & requires a multi-sectoral approach
Read the joint statement by @OMpslsw, @ClimateZimDept & @UNICEFZIMBABWE on the Convention on the Rights of the Child #CRC: General Comment No. 26 (2023) on Children’s rights to clean, healthy & sustainable environment, w/ special focus on #Climate.
📚: https://t.co/Wxvba737iI
A provision in the newly-gazetted Children's Amendment Act stipulates that parents who fail to keep their children in check, leaving them to commit crimes, will be liable to criminal charges, hence they will pay for their children's crimes.
What is your take?
@WorldVisionZim@WorldVision@WorldVisionSAR Good work, but we should not publicise program participants, especially children. It is our ethical responsibility to uphold the principle of malfeasance.
The @ZimFirstLady Dr Mnangagwa is at Harare Children's Home in Estlea conducting her Nhanga/ Gota programme. She is also expected to interact with hundreds of children drawn from all orphanages in Highfields and Harare Central districts.
She has brought assortment of food items as part of her support to various children homes.
“It is incumbent on Sudanese leaders to put the interests of their people front and centre. This conflict will not, and must not, be resolved on the battlefield – with the bodies of Sudan’s people.”
@antonioguterres on the current situation in #Sudan. Latest updates here 👇
I had a curved ball thrown at me during a recruitment assignment. Here is the story.
We got what I considered a good assignment. We started the project well. The advertising for the role went well. The shortlisting of the candidates went well.
The last part was the interview process. Our approach for all interviews where we have exclusive rights to recruitment is that we take charge of the whole process. This includes ensuring that the process, from advertising the role up to the conclusion of the interviews, is done to the right standard. Where the Board disagrees with what we consider to be standard procedure to ensure the integrity of the process, we politely request that they support that decision with a Board resolution. Alternatively, we ask for a written directive, provided the directive is not unethical. If they refuse, we will terminate the contract. So far, we have terminated an assignment once for this reason.
Back to our story. Two days before the big day; the interview date, one of the board members approached me with a message from the board. The message was that the board had a preferred candidate, and I must facilitate to ensure that that happens. I told them I had no power to do that and was unsure how that was possible. I wanted to get more details. They intimated that it may involve changing the scores. I said that was impossible as long as we were leading the process. They insisted that this was how it was supposed to go because they had instructions. I asked for a board resolution, but it did not come. I asked for a directive, and it could not come.
About 3 hours after our discussion, I emailed everyone involved in the recruitment, including board members. I acknowledged that I had received their emissary and the message and could not assist. I sent an email around 7:15 p.m. a day before the interviews.
I went home and was not close to my phone for almost 5 hours. I saw 30 missed calls from one number. I managed to call back around 12:45 a.m. because they kept calling. When I answered, the emissary was angry and almost in tears. "How could you send an email to everyone" . I told them i did that so we were all on the same page. They shouted at me for a while before hanging up.
Tomorrow morning, we proceeded with the interviews and followed the correct protocol until the end. This recruitment went very well. The "preferred candidate" did not even come close.
Our recruitment protocol is that we do not share interview questions in advance( with panellists). We have two options:
1. We prepare draft questions that we only share with the panel on the day of the interviews when we are in session. Panelists are allowed to amend questions and justify. This has worked well so far.
2. The panel sets aside an hour before the interviews to develop and agree on questions under the consultant's guidance. This has worked well so far.
N.B - No Panelist receives the interview questions in advance, regardless of their status on the board.
Remember, all this is meant to ensure the integrity of the process. It does not take away the biases of the individual panelists, but it helps to stop any blunt shenanigans in the process.
N.B. One more thing: the board was not aware of this emissary. It was an attempt to influence the outcome using the board's name. It failed.
REFLECTION
"My parents were married for 55 years. One morning, my mom was going downstairs to make dad breakfast, she had a heart attack and fell. My father picked her up as best he could and almost dragged her into the truck. At full speed , without respecting traffic lights,