Building partnerships for safer neighborhoods

Today the City of Masvingo Gender Desk coordinated an awareness campaign on missing children cases aimed at educating the community on child safety measures and promoting heightened community vigilance.

The campaign brought together key stakeholders including MOPSE, BHASO, MY AGE AFRICA, VFU, MWACSMED, MARCFT, ZACH, Ministry of Youth, EFZ, BOMEFF, SGDZT, CBAP, NCDPZ, MOHCC, ZGC, ARC, FST, SFC, WCOZ, CWGH, ZNFPC, NAC URBAN, ZNNP+ to raise awareness on the increasing concerns surrounding missing children.

Through information dissemination and community engagement activities, residents were equipped with practical knowledge on preventing child disappearances and responding effectively in the event a child goes missing.

Key safety measures shared during the campaign included:

· Encouraging parents and guardians to closely monitor children’s movements.

· Teaching children not to engage with strangers or accept gifts from unknown individuals.

· Ensuring children know important contact details and safe places to seek help.

· Promoting immediate reporting of missing children to authorities.

· Suggesting neighbourhood watch initiatives to enhance community surveillance.

The Gender Desk emphasized that protecting children is a collective responsibility that requires collaboration between families, community members, and relevant authorities. Residents were urged to remain alert, report suspicious activities, and support efforts aimed at safeguarding children within their communities.

The awareness campaign reaffirmed the City’s commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for all children in Masvingo.