By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
HARARE – As Zimbabwe commemorated the Day of the African Child (DAC) , Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has issued a strong call for urgent action to safeguard children’s rights within the education sector.
Under the theme: “Planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010,” the observance highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable children, especially those with disabilities, in accessing quality education.
TI Zimbabwe emphasized that despite constitutional mandates to guarantee children’s rights to education, healthcare, and protection, corruption and mismanagement within public systems continue to undermine these rights.
The organization pointed out that low and delayed disbursements of education funds create fertile ground for corruption, which manifests in informal fees, illegal prepayments, and procurement malpractices. These corrupt practices not only hinder access to education but also deepen inequalities, disproportionately affecting children at risk of discrimination.
In its statement, TIZ called on the government to take decisive action to address these issues.
They urged for greater transparency in the allocation and disbursement of public funds, including timely disbursements to bridge resource gaps that foster corruption. The organization also emphasized the importance of conducting impact assessments of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), with a specific focus on children with disabilities, and implementing a comprehensive audit of the programme to identify and remove undeserving beneficiaries.
Furthermore, TIZ has advocated for the adoption of digital platforms to streamline enrolment processes, reducing human interference and opportunities for corruption. The organization also stressed the need to strengthen governance over examinations, undertake regular systems audits, and establish clear policies for managing school assets and resources.
The accelerated implementation of e-procurement systems and the development of policies requiring teachers and staff to declare conflicts of interest and disclose relevant information are also critical steps recommended to promote transparency and accountability.