AMONG the throngs of pedestrians in Harare’s bustling Julius Nyerere Way, 18-year-old Ayisha*, eight months pregnant, holds out a trembling hand, pleading for scraps.
Her story is of inherited hardships, born on the same streets where her mother once begged.
Ayisha’s world is one of makeshift families, forged on the streets.
Her friends, a group of young boys, have become like brothers.
They share what little they have, relying on each other for survival.
As fate would have it, a well-wisher approaches, intending to offer aid.
Noticing the boys, he reaches for his wallet, but hesitates.
A bottle of glue, known as gukwa in street lingo, peeking out of one boy’s pocket gives him a pause.
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Fearful the young boys will squander the money on glue, he wavers.
The boys sense his uncertainty and swiftly signal him to give the money to Ayisha instead.
“She will buy food for us,” they assure the passer-by, their eyes locked on hers.
In that moment, a profound bond is revealed — trust, loyalty, and a shared struggle.
Ayisha’s story, intertwined with those of her street family, lays bare the harsh realities of Zimbabwe’s forgotten children.
Their futures hang in the balance, as they navigate the unforgiving world of street life, where vulnerable youth navigate adulthood without guidance or support.
Limited access to education, healthcare, and social services leaves them exposed to exploitation and risk.
As Truth Diggers, an Alpha Media Holdings investigative unit sat down with Ayisha and her two “brothers”, Mark* (11) and Kamu* (13), she shared her story, her eyes, though weary, holding a deep resilience.
Ayisha revealed that she had been impregnated by Donald, another street kid.
The encounter occurred at their makeshift haven, a tunnel between two buildings along Takawira Street, nestled between Robert Mugabe Way and Jason Moyo Avenue.
This dimly lit passageway, known as the “base”, serves as a gathering point and temporary home for Harare’s dtreet kids, where they seek refuge after a day’s work.
Mark and Kamu listened intently, their faces etched with concern for Ayisha’s well-being.
Their bond, forged on the streets, transcends biological ties, reflecting the strong sense of community that helps them cope with their circumstances.
Ayisha is expecting her second child.
Her first child, now a toddler, lives with her mother in Chitungwiza, a distant suburb of Harare.
“I don’t remember the father of my first child,” she said.
“But he is from these streets. My mother used to beg here at this same spot. But she said she was tired and resigned.
“She expects me to go back home with my daily earnings, but sometimes I don’t. I can sleep here on the streets or go to my friend’s place in Epworth.”
As the conversation unfolded, Kamu’s gaze drifted, his hands instinctively reaching for the almost-empty plastic bottle hidden in the pockets of his tattered pair of trousers.
Truth Diggers intervened, tried to stop Kamu, but he resisted.
“No, this is precious stuff,” he protested, his voice trembling as he clutched the plastic to his nose.
“It keeps me warm during the night. Moreover, I don’t feel hungry when I take this. It’s the numbness that I feel after taking this which is important.”
His eyes, once bright with resilience, began to glaze over, their sparkle dulled by the glue’s intoxicating fumes.
Mark and Ayisha exchanged worried glances, their faces revealing helplessness and despair.
Kamu’s desperate quest for solace in a toxic substance would soon wear off, leaving him vulnerable to the usual street life.
As the conversation deepened, it emerged that not all street kids are completely disconnected from their families.
Mark and Kamu shared that they both have mothers, a glimpse of hope in their otherwise fragile existence.
Mark’s eyes softened as he mentioned his mother, who resides in Epworth, a humble suburb on Harare’s outskirts.
“I sometimes go home to see her,” he said, a hint of longing in his voice.
The bond between mother and son remained intact, despite the distance and difficulties.
Kamu, too, spoke of his mother, though his tone was more guarded.
Ayisha listened intently, her expression a mix of empathy and understanding.
In Harare, dozens of homeless children have been arrested in a recent police crackdown.
In an interview, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry is actively involved in the operations being conducted by the government to safeguard street children.
“We always work with the Ministry of Social Welfare to maintain order during such operations. When there is an ongoing means to take care of street children, the Social Welfare ministry will be at the forefront in screening these children according to their needs,” Nyathi told Truth Diggers.
“Some are assisted to go to school, while some will be reunited with their families. The ministry will then assess the reasons behind some of these children opting to live in the streets. This is a process which involves a multi-stakeholder approach.”
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Welfare chairperson Dorothy Mashonganyika said the committee had discussed the issues affecting these vulnerable children across the ten provinces in Zimbabwe.
She added that they were planning to embark on a mission to gather information on different factors pushing children to live on the streets.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has been working to support vulnerable children.
ZimRights recently launched a campaign to provide homeless children with blankets, clothes and other essential necessities.
ZimRights has also launched a campaign to repeal the Vagrancy Act, a colonial law that disproportionately targets homeless children, advocating for the introduction of a more humane Social Welfare and Protection Act.
The Vagrancy Act has been criticised for criminalising poverty and homelessness, rather than addressing the underlying issues that drive children to the streets.
ZimRights director Dzikamai Bere said children were fleeing their homes owing to poverty.
He said some relatives were sending their children to the street to beg for food and money as a means of survival.
“Indeed, we have encountered cases where older individuals, including relatives, may be exploiting these children,” Bere said.
“This exploitation is a direct consequence of poverty and systemic failures. The issue of child exploitation, where children are forced to beg for their families’ benefit, also raises deep concerns.
“This kind of exploitation is not only morally unacceptable, but also violates the Right to Human Dignity as enshrined in section 51 of the Constitution, which affirms every person’s inherent dignity and the State’s obligation to protect it.”
*Names of the children were changed to protect their identity.
