Source: Govt moves to develop national after-care policy – herald
Sekai Manyere
Herald Reporter
THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has started developing a national after-care policy to support young people transitioning into independent living.
A care leaver is a young person who has grown up in foster care, kinship care, or a residential children’s home and has aged out of the system.
The initiative is expected to provide a structured framework to assist young adults in areas such as education, employment, housing, healthcare and psychosocial support.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting in Harare yesterday, Acting Director for Social Development Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi said the policy development process reflected the need for a coordinated and multi-sectoral approach to supporting children and young people in alternative care.
He said many young people leaving care institutions faced challenges that included financial insecurity, limited employment opportunities and a lack of identity documents.
“While some young people navigate this transition successfully, many face hurdles that necessitate a structured, coordinated national approach,” said Mr Tirivavi.
Effective after-care requires collaboration among Government ministries, development partners, civil society organisations and communities, he added.
“Effective after-care cannot rest on one ministry or institution alone. Collaboration is essential,” he said.
Mr Tirivavi encouraged stakeholders to actively contribute recommendations that would help address service gaps and shape a sustainable national after-care framework.
“We value your input, as it will significantly shape the development of sustainable after-care policies,” he said.
The programme is being supported by various stakeholders, including SOS Children’s Villages and the Zimbabwe Care Leavers Network (ZICLAN).
ZICLAN representative Mr Darlington Chaparadza said leaving care should be viewed as a process rather than a once-off event.
Mr Chaparadza, who has lived experience as a care leaver, said many young people struggled to integrate into society due to inadequate support systems.
He said the organisation was committed to ensuring that care leavers received the support needed to successfully transition into adulthood.
The policy initiative follows a national study involving more than 400 participants, which documented challenges faced by caregivers and care-experienced young people.
“We have documented primary lived experience challenges to inform national legislative frameworks,” said Mr Chaparadza.
He said ZICLAN would continue working closely with the Department of Social Development to promote the rights and welfare of care leavers through life-skills training, mentorship programmes and housing support.
“This is not just a tick-box exercise for officials; we need to ensure that reintegrated youth are truly ready,” he said.
Mr Chaparadza said the organisation was advocating for stronger inter-ministerial partnerships, standardised care protocols and dedicated budget allocations to support young people after they leave care institutions.
The proposed national after-care policy is expected to strengthen community reintegration and ensure vulnerable young people are not left behind as they transition into independent living.
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