P. Sarojini
Zimbabwe (CWBN)_ According to the latest research by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (Zela), one of the most annoying adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic is the child labour. The research says that the decline in the economic activities followed by prolonged lockdowns which was caused by the pandemic has resulted in poverty, which in turn fueled child labor in Zimbabwe.
Recent studies by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (Zela), which is a vocal observer of the mining industry in the country, show that the number of children forced to work in informal gold mines is growing. The study by Zela revealed that in the gold mining regions, even the primary school girls are also moving into sex work in large numbers.
The research findings of the Zela says that the pandemic has resulted in child labor in the country. Zela said, “In the mining community, child labour has increased since the lockdown, with many children getting involved to try and earn income for their families”. The research mainly targeted the closed mines in the country and was performed during September to November.
The report from Zela also mentioned about the illegal mining operations ongoing in the country. It said, “At some closed mine sites, illegal artisanal mining operations are taking place and in some cases such operations involve child participation in mining especially at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown and school closure period”.
The report further discussed on how the marketing of the mineral could be affected with children operating the mines. It said, “This has negative implications on the artisanal and small-scale mining value chain. Sourcing gold from mines operated by children affects the marketing of the mineral.”
After registering the first Covid-19 incidents, Zimbabwe first placed a nation-wide lockdown in March, resulting in reduced economic activity. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been steadily relaxing the Covid-19 restrictions, but authorities say that it will consume more time to recover the country’s largely informal economy.
A study by the International Crisis Group (ICG) revealed in their recent findings that approximately 1.5 million Zimbabweans have turned to artisanal mining as a safety net. The ICG said, “This trend will likely persist as Covid-19 brings additional hardship and spurs urban rural migration”.
Further, reports from the United States’ Bureau of International Labour Affairs said, “Zimbabwean children engage in the worst forms of child labour, including in commercial sex exploitation, mining and tobacco production.”
