Every parent wants to protect their child. But too often, we talk about safety by frightening children instead of preparing them. The world is not always safe, and Zimbabwe is no exception. The numbers show why we need to act.
Globally, the International Labour Organization estimates that around 1.2 million children are trafficked every year. UNICEF warns that children make up more than a quarter of all human trafficking victims worldwide. Closer to home, sub-Saharan Africa records some of the highest rates of child trafficking and abduction.
In Zimbabwe, police data and child protection groups report more than 30 cases of child rape every day. That is more than 10,000 children in a year, and those are only the reported cases. The Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children has also warned about rising numbers of missing children, many linked to trafficking or abuse by people the children knew and trusted.
These statistics are not meant to terrify us. They are meant to show that awareness and preparation are urgent. Fear won’t help children. Knowledge and calm practice will.
Are you enjoying reading this post? Receive Notifications via email when new articles are published
Children can be taught simple, clear rules. They should know that it is okay to refuse an adult who makes them uncomfortable. They should not go anywhere with a stranger, even if offered food, gifts, or promises. A child-friendly “safe word” between parent and child can help in emergencies, especially if someone else comes to collect them.
Technology can also help. Even a basic phone with emergency numbers saved can give a child a quick way to reach you. Free features like location sharing or speed dial make a difference. For children without phones, make sure they memorize one or two numbers by heart.
Parents should keep communication open. Ask children how they feel about their daily journeys, friends, or adults they interact with. Many children suffer in silence because they fear punishment or disbelief. Listening without judgment can uncover problems before they turn into dangers.
Communities must also play their part. Many cases of abduction and abuse could be prevented if neighbours paid attention. If a child suddenly disappears, time is critical. Studies show the first 24 hours are the most important in recovering missing children. Reporting quickly, sharing verified information, and checking local surroundings can save lives.
Safety is not about raising children in fear. It is about raising them with confidence. Children who know what to do in unsafe situations are less likely to become victims. As Zimbabwe continues to face challenges of crime and social breakdown, parents and guardians must treat child safety as daily practice, not panic after the fact.
The goal is simple: to give children the freedom to grow and explore, while giving them the tools to stay safe. We cannot change every danger in the world. But we can change how prepared our children are to face it.
Did you enjoy reading this post? Receive Notifications via email when new articles are published
Latest Articles
- IshowSpeed coming to ZimbabweMarondera – Darren Jason Watkins Jr., the American internet personality better known as IShowSpeed, is expected to visit Zimbabwe as part of an ambitious tour spanning 20 African countries, a move that signals a growing shift in how global digital culture engages with the continent. Watkins, just 20 years old, has become one of the most influential livestreamers of his generation, commanding tens of millions …
- Us vs ThemThere’s no “us.” There’s no “them.” There’s only the comfort of pretending there is. People need enemies the way lungs need air. Conflict gives meaning to the meaningless.Without opposition, identity collapses. So we build one. We draw lines on maps, then forget who drew them. Every tribe begins as fear, then calls itself culture.We love belonging because it saves us from thinking.It’s easier to chant …
- We Turned Horniness Into An IndustryLet me explain this slowly, because if you blinked for five minutes in June, you might’ve missed the moment humanity officially gave up pretending it had standards. An actress, Sydney Sweeney, famous, attractive, very online-adjacent, partnered with a men’s grooming company called Dr Squatch to release a limited-edition bar of soap. Five thousand bars. Eight dollars each. And the marketing hook, the thing that made …
- Smoke ScreensThe Epstein Files were supposed to be a revelation.A ledger of the powerful written in ink, not whispers.Promises were made. Promises were repeated.They claimed the truth would come out.The fog would lift.Transparency was the campaign slogan. Then the files arrived.And almost everything was blank.Pages upon pages covered in black boxes.Names, conversations, details, gone.Block after block of censorship.Critics call it about 90 percent redacted. That is …
- The Redacted States Of AmericaThey finally released the Epstein files. And by “released,” I mean they handed the public a stack of black rectangles wrapped in patriotic bullshit and said, ‘here you go, transparency.’ Not truth, mind you. Not accountability either. Transparency cosplay. The kind where the light technically passes through, but you still can’t see a fucking thing. Page after page after page looks like it lost a …
Zealous Thierry 