Zimbabwe-based uprising gospel minister Kingston Chivenge has incorporated child protection advocacy into his music, an approach that is aimed at promoting and protecting children’s rights by raising awareness against child dumping and sexual exploitation of minors.
Chivenge revealed this during the Zimgospel Masters radio Local Talent show, where he said the lives of minors are being jeopardized by child dumping and sexual harassment, scenarios which have been killing the destinies of minors, hence robbing the nation of future leaders.
“God has called me to do his work by preaching through music. I realised as well that some people in our societies do not value the preciousness of life, which is why you find that child neglect and child dumping still exist in today’s era.
“By God’s grace, I am coming as a voice to cry for the innocent souls who are being neglected and abandoned. It is worrisome that kids are being abandoned in forests, discarded houses, and toilets. I aim to raise awareness against such practices and to give hope to the mothers who might have been abandoned by their husbands, to let them know that there is a future.
“Some of the reasons why baby dumping and child neglect still exist include: poverty, unwanted pregnancy, economic hardships, and lack of knowledge. So my word of advice to communities is that, to all the youths, please abstain from premature sexual relations since they are contributing to unwanted pregnancy and early marriages. For the mothers, in case the father of the baby has abandoned the family, persist in raising the children or look for help from the authorities, who will guide you on how to handle the situation without putting the lives of children in danger,” said Chivenge.
Meanwhile, Minister Chivenge further challenged communities to expose every form of child abuse and to create an environment that allows children to realise their full potential.
“Also, as communities, we should stand with each other to prevent sexual exploitation of children. In the case that we see child abuse taking place, let us stand boldly and challenge those bad acts.
“Let us ensure access to quality education and basic needs for our children. As communities and churches let us report any form of child abuse,” he added
To date, Minister Chivenge has released one five-track album titled “Ndanzwa mhere, which carries two songs, “vana vangu” and “ndanzwa mhere,” which mainly advocate for the protection of the minors.
According to some reports, over 51% of children in Zimbabwe are not registered at birth, which can lead to difficulties in accessing social services and protection and 35% of children aged 5-17 years are engaged in child labor, with 13% working under hazardous conditions.
One-third of girls experience sexual violence before their 18th birthday, and one-third of women aged 20-24 years married before age 18.
To address these challenges, UNICEF is working to strengthen child protection systems, develop legislative frameworks, and enhance social services to prevent and respond to child abandonment.
