BY KWANELE TSABEDZE
MBABANE – In the next few weeks, you may be able to adopt one of 45 abandoned children in Eswatini.
This was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku today when he sensitised the senate portfolio committee on the Child Protection and Welfare Act of 2012 in Mbabane. Speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed that emaSwati are eager to adopt children, and that this will be possible in a few weeks.
“We will be looking at the regulations, so that within the next few weeks we will kick off the adoption. There is pressure, people want to adopt,” said the Deputy Prime Minister
He revealed that he is accosted by people from his own office who are eager to adopt children, adding that this is also the norm when he meets people in other places including the church and the streets.
“I find this very important, that when we look at the regulations, we can then allow that. Just in my last report to parliament, we found that there were about 45 children who had been abandoned,” revealed the Deputy Prime Minister.
UNICEF Eswatini Director Amina Mohammed expressed support for the Child Protection and Welfare Act, emphasising that there needs to be collaboration among stakeholders.
“We want to strengthen the partnership. It should not end by enacting laws and policies, but ensuring that we work together to push the buttons that need to be pushed within the society, within the kingdom, bringing in all the partners that we can work with. These include the private sector, the parents, the children themselves and the young people themselves,” said Mohammed.
The Child Protection and Welfare Act of 2012 details, among other things, the regulations and guidelines for adopting a child in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
