By: Draxon Maloya.
Lilongwe, Malawi. (News of The South) -The office of the ombudsman in Malawi has faulted the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare for failing in its duty to implement the National Strategy on Children Living and Working in the streets.
The strategy which was supposed roll out in 2014~2019 has been described by the country’s ombudsman Martha Chidzuma as one of the issues that clearly demonstrates maladministration at the ministry.
“By ignoring issues to do with children whose vulnerability is higher, the District Social Welfare Officers (DSWO) HAVE Acted with bias, this is maladministration,” Chidzuma said.
One of the children’s rights defenders, Eye of the Child launched a complaint at the ombudsman’s office claiming that the rights of children in the country are being infringed deliberately by the ministry officials and that was a call for an immediate investigation by the ombudsman.
The investigation has found that after the expiry of the implemented strategy the Ministry failed to draw a succeeding guide.
On negligence the findings are clear that there is an absence of DSWO mainly when there is a need for them to appear before the court of law, and the worst culprit being the city and district councils.
Meanwhile the ombudsman has issued a directive ordering the city and district Councils in the country that by 30th April 2019 Social Welfare Officers should develop a schedule of all the cases pending in courts involving children who are working in the streets.
But commenting on the issue the Acting Director of Social Welfare in the ministry, Dina Gumulira said the report will play a crucial role in resource mobilization.
“District councils are experiencing funding challenges more especially District Social Welfare Offices, some offices have the monthly budget of Mk200, 000 per month. This affects our operation and we are going to use this report to justify the need for more resources,” Gumulira said.
High rate of HIV prevalence, Poverty and lack of proper parental care are some of the challenges that are leading to the increase in number of children working in the streets in Malawi.
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