One Year Old Child Jailed
Detaining a mother with a one-year-old child strapped on her back (like this one on the photo) is not only immoral, but also inhumane and potentially harmful to the child’s well-being.
Yet this is what President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has done when it arrested former minister and MP Jameson Timba and dozens of opposition activists accused of an illegal gathering and planning anti-government protests.
One of the detainees has a one-year old, a move which has sent shockwaves across the country and elsewhere.
Zimbabweans are badly horrified by authorities’ cruelty and insensitivity over the incident.
Children at this age are already experiencing separation anxiety, and being detained with their primary caregiver can exacerbate this stress due to the unfamiliar and hostile environment.
A one-year-old child requires constant special care, including feeding, changing, and comfort.
Detention conditions fail to meet these basic needs and subjects a child to inhuman conditions.
Besides, detention centres, jails or remand prison, in Zimbabwe are squalid and overcrowded, leading to serious health risks for both the mother and child.
The experience of being detained can be traumatic for a young child, potentially leading to long-term emotional and psychological damage.
If the mother is breastfeeding, detention can disrupt this essential bond and potentially harm the child’s health.
It is essential to consider the humanitarian and human rights implications of detaining parents with young children.
Alternative solutions, such as community-based support and case management, can ensure the well-being and safety of both the mother and child, while addressing any political or legal issues involved.
