not to be compelled to take part in any political activity.’ In the present
case, the Commission observed some children who were providing
entertainment at the youth interface rallies held at Mkoba Teachers
College in Gweru on the 1st of September 2017 and at White City
Stadium in Bulawayo on the 4th of November 2017. The use of
children to provide entertainment at political rallies could be said to be
compelling children to attend political rallies. However, asserting the
“compelling” was difficult as it can be argued that the children might
have felt privileged to provide entertainment at such a high profile
meeting. A solution to this is found in the Children’s Act Chapter 5:06.
7.2.
The use of children to provide entertainment in public places is
criminalised in terms of the Children’s Act. Section 10 (1) (d) provides
that :- Any parent or guardian of a child or young person who allows
that child or young person or any person who causes any child or
young person to perform or be exhibited in any way for public
entertainment in a manner likely to be detrimental to the child's or
young person's health, morals, mind or body; shall be guilty of an
offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such
imprisonment. Children dressed in party regalia were used to provide
entertainment through provocative dances. The provocative dances
have a negative bearing on the morals of children. At the Bulawayo
Youth Interface Rally held on the 4th of November 2017 at White City
Stadium, a Primary School going child was made to provide
entertainment in the form of a poem in which she was singing praises
to the former President and first lady.
7.3.
Furthermore, the children were exposed to hate, disrespectful and
discriminatory speech that presupposes some tribes are better than
other tribes and that anyone who opposes the ruling party is an enemy
and should not be listened to. The speeches seemed to promote
violence in the event of people having views that are different from
those of the former first family as the speeches were tearing into some
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