Nearly half of the more than six million Mozambican children live in multidimensional poverty, in a context marked by high rates of early marriages, child labour, chronic malnutrition and infant mortality, government authorities warned on Monday, 1 June, on the occasion of International Children’s Day.
Data released in Maputo shows that Mozambique remains among the countries in the region with the highest infant mortality rates, recording about 67 deaths of children under five per 1,000 live births, above the regional average of 48 deaths.
Speaking during the celebrations, the National Director for Children at the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Action, Angélica Magaia, said multidimensional poverty continues to affect millions of children, with higher incidence in Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Zambézia provinces.
“Nearly half of the more than six million Mozambican children live in multidimensional poverty. The most affected provinces are Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Zambézia, which also have high population density,” she explained.
The official also pointed to chronic malnutrition as one of the main obstacles to child development, despite progress made in recent years, and expressed concern over the persistence of early marriages. “We still have 48% of girls living in early marriages. This means that almost half of the girls in our country continue to be exposed to multiple forms of violence that compromise their future,” she said.
Another challenge highlighted was child labour, a phenomenon that continues to affect thousands of minors. “Unfortunately, 16% of our children are involved in labour activities. This is a very serious problem,” said Angélica Magaia.
Despite this situation, the official highlighted progress in access to education, noting that about 96% of school-age children are currently attending school, thanks to the expansion of the school network and improved learning conditions.
For his part, the Secretary of State in the City of Maputo, Vicente Joaquim, called for greater family involvement in children’s education and protection. “It should not be only on International Children’s Day or during the month of June. We must reflect every day on how to ensure that our children grow up with health, safety and well-being,” he said.
Also present at the celebrations, the President of the Children’s Parliament of Maputo City, Flávia Bila, called for stronger protection mechanisms for minors, warning about the increasing number of risk situations involving children. “We have witnessed worrying cases of children in conflict with the law and exposed to risky behaviours. It is necessary to redouble efforts to ensure their protection and guarantee a safer future for all,” she said.
