By Edward Makuzva
In a historic step towards strengthening the protection and promotion of children’s rights, the Parliament of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), solidifying a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the lives of children and women across the country.
The signing ceremony, held at Parliament Building in Harare,Tuesday, was officiated by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, and the UNICEF Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr. Etona Ekole.
The MoU, which was five years in the making, includes Zimbabwe Institute Board, Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association, and Veritas. It reflects a shared commitment to deepening engagement on critical issues affecting children and to building a more structured and impactful partnership between the two institutions. While there have been collaborations in the past on various initiatives such as capacity building, policy dialogue, and advocacy, this agreement now provides a clear framework for joint planning and implementation.
The MoU also brings on board key civil society actors which signaling a multisectoral approach to championing the rights of children.
Advocate Mudenda added that the signing of this MoU marks the beginning of a renewed journey of cooperation.
“We affirm our shared commitment in building a democratic, inclusive, and accountable parliamentary ecosystem—one that prioritizes the voices and wellbeing of our children as we shape the future of this nation”, said Advocate Mudenda.
Through this partnership, the institutions will work together to support evidence-based policymaking, improve oversight and accountability for child-focused budgets and legislation, and enhance citizen participation in national development processes.
The MoU builds on previous collaborations in areas such as capacity development for legislators, support for child-sensitive policies, and advocacy campaigns on issues like birth registration and child marriage. However, this agreement now introduces a more coordinated and structured framework for joint planning, implementation, and monitoring of child-focused initiatives.
UNICEF Representative Dr. Ekole emphasized the significance of Parliament’s role in shaping national development outcomes.
“Through its legislative and oversight functions, Parliament has the power to influence policies, budgets, and programmes that directly impact the lives of children. This partnership will ensure that children’s voices and needs are placed at the heart of national decision-making processes,” said UNICEF Representative, Etona Ekole.
The partnership aims to enhance Parliament’s ability to:
Review and enact child-sensitive legislation.
Promote transparency and accountability in child-related budgeting and resource allocation.
Support participatory governance and ensure that children’s voices are heard in national discourse.
Strengthen mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of child rights frameworks at both national and sub-national levels.
In addition to, the agreement reinforces recent efforts by Parliament to establish structures that promote child welfare, including the formation of the Child Rights Caucus, advocacy for girls’ education, initiatives to expand access to sanitary health products, and a push to eliminate corporal punishment in schools.
A two-year joint workplan has been developed to operationalize the partnership. The plan, which will be co-funded by both Parliament and UNICEF, identifies priority areas of intervention and measurable indicators to track progress. Key areas of focus include child protection, early childhood development, adolescent participation, and gender equity.
The event was attended by Members of Parliament, representatives from civil society organizations, child rights advocates, and development partners.