From Policy to Practice: Understanding Institutional Weaknesses in Protecting Migrant Children on the Move in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Despite Zimbabwe’s commitment to international child rights instruments, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) (1990), the protection of children on the move remains inconsistent and poorly enforced. This study examines the policy, legal and institutional shortcomings that undermine child protection for migrant and unaccompanied children in Zimbabwe. Using a qualitative document analysis approach, the research reviews national laws, policy frameworks, institutional reports and regional conventions to assess the alignment between policy intent and practice. The findings reveal weak policy enforcement, fragmented institutional mandates, inadequate funding and a lack of coordination. The study recommends that strong legislative reform, policy coherence, institutional capacity building, community integration with strong cross-border cooperation, monitoring and evaluation measures should be implemented to address institutional gaps pertaining migrant children on the move.