ZRP Takes Action Against Child Begging After Viral Joina City Video
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has once again taken action after a video went viral on social media. The video showed children begging for money near Joina City Shopping Mall on Speke Avenue in Harare’s central business district.
Also read: ZRP Arrests Five Teenagers For Unclothing And Assaulting A Young Girl In Viral Video
ZRP Takes Action Against Child Begging After Viral Joina City Video
In a statement released on its verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday evening, the police announced that last Friday, they joined forces with the Department of Social Welfare to conduct an operation targeting beggars in Harare’s CBD.
During the operation, authorities focused on areas around Rezende Street, Joina City, and Town House, removing children and their guardians who were begging for food or money. As a result, 22 children and their guardians were taken off the streets and handed over to the Department of Social Welfare.
Police Urge Guardians to Stop Using Children for Begging
In the statement, the ZRP emphasized the importance of not using children and disabled individuals to beg, warning that such actions could lead to arrests for violating child protection laws.
The full statement from the ZRP reads:
“Reference is made to a video which went viral on social media platforms in which children are seen begging for money near Joina City, Harare CBD.
On 23/08/24, Police in Harare, in conjunction with Department of Social Welfare, carried out an operation in the streets of Harare CBD removing children and their guardians who were begging for food in Harare CBD, particularly along Rezende Street, Joina City and Town House areas. As a result, 22 children and their guardians were handed over to Department of Social Welfare.
Guardians are implored not to use children and the disabled to beg for money and food in the streets as they risk arrest for violating the country’s laws protecting children.”
After the ZRP issued the statement, Zimbabweans voiced their opinions in the comments section. Whilst some applauded the police for such sterling work, others said the operation would not yield longlasting results. Here are some of the comments:
@uMnumzana_L:
Addressing symptoms without bothering about the causes won’t help!
@bngarande:
Good work, but next time don’t wait for videos on social media to react, these things u see them everyday, along samora and enterprise, at rhodesvhille glenara/rbt Mugabe right in front of the police station, Julius/keneth kaunda behind central police , ts always in front of u
@muzavazi_i:
Especially ones using disabled children on wheelchairs near traffic lights or intersections, they are punishing the kids using them to source for money or food from morning to evening robbing them of their childhood.
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The post ZRP Takes Action Against Child Begging After Viral Joina City Video appeared first on iHarare News.
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