Three teenage girls from Makorokoro village, Mangwe District in Zimbabwe who trekked into Botswana avoiding elephants along the way to seek protection from alleged “repeated abuse” by their parents, were placed under temporary protection by Francistown Magistrate Court this Monday.
Unaccompanied and undocumented the young girls aged between 15 and 16’s great trek was intercepted by the Botswana police in tiny border village of Matopi in their search for safety.
Appearing before a children’s court, the teenagers told Principal Magistrate Tshepo Magetse they do not want to return to their home country. They reportedly feared repeated assaults by their parents and members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
“The instant case is of a different character. It concerns three girls aged 16, 15, and 14 years who departed unaccompanied from Makorokoro village, in Zimbabwe and crossed into Botswana on foot. Along the way they were pursued by elephants, yet persisted with their journey. Their testimony is they fled repeated assaults at the hands of Zimbabwean police and family.”
“Unlike children previously mentioned who travel for family visits, their purpose was not to reunite with relatives but, as they testified to seek protection,” noted Magistrate Magetse.
The court has since involved the children’s parents who insisted they should return to Zimbabwe so that they can continue with their education.
“The parents’ wishes thus stand in conflict with the children’s expressed fears and desire for protection. The assigned social worker has recommended repatriation of the children. However, the report does not adequately address the conflict at hand, as it neither engages with the children’s allegations of abuse nor proposes intervention measures, counselling of safeguards to mitigate the risks that may arise upon their return.”
Magetse said faced with a critical situation where views of the children and parents are at loggerheads, the court needs to tread carefully, as to whose voice must prevail before the children’s court and by what standard or approach is the matter to be resolved.
In the meantime, pending the girls’ repatriation, Principal Magistrate Magetse ordered the assigned social worker to conduct a thorough investigation into the children’s alleged fears, the parental position and necessary protective measures.
“In the present circumstances, this requires that the children’s concerns be thoroughly investigated, protective interventions and counselling be explored. Cross border engagement with Zimbabwean child protection stakeholders where they reside be undertaken before any determination on reparation can be responsibly made”, concluded Francistown Magistrate.
