Duty of a Child
I was listening to a radio programme, when I heard that children have duties and responsibilities to their parents and community. I think the presentation was wrong and misleading. Children cannot have duties and responsibilities. I know a law that says children should be protected. Kindly guide me.
GM, Dar es Salaam
The law you are referring to is the Law of the Child Act [Cap. 13 R.E. 2019] (the Law of the Child). Much as the law contains various provisions protecting children, it also provides general duties for children. According to section 15 of the Law of the Child Act, a child shall have a duty and responsibility to (a) work for the cohesion of the family; (b) respect his parents, guardians, superiors and elders at all times and assist them in case of need; (c) serve his community and nation by placing his physical and intellectual abilities at its service in accordance with his age and abilities; (d) preserve and strengthen social and national cohesion; and (e) preserve and strengthen the positive cultural values of his community and the nation in general in relation to other members of the community or the nation. In that regard, the presenter was correct. Nonetheless, this provision does not, in any way, take away the rights of children protected under the Law of the Child Act.