Story by ZBC Reporter
THE government has gazetted the Children’s Amendment Act and the Electoral Amendment Act after Presidential Assent.
The laws were gazetted this Wednesday in terms of Section 131 of the Zimbabwean Constitution.
The Children’s Amendment Act comes into effect at a time the previous law was inconsistent with the country’s constitution, leading to loopholes in efforts to address child rights and protect children from social vices such as child sexual exploitation.
Under the new law, a child is now referred to as any person under the age of 18 and such a person has no capacity to make certain decisions including giving sexual consent.
This is a departure from the past, where a person aged 16 and above was regarded as old enough to consent to sex.
Meanwhile, the gazetted Electoral Amendment Act will see those convicted of any criminal offence within a period of 12 months before the sitting of the Nomination Court being disqualified from seeking election as councillors or members of the National Assembly.
