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Debra Matabvu
ZIMBABWE is set to host about seven regional Heads of State and Government and over 8 000 children from the SADC region at the Regional World Children’s Day celebrations in Victoria Falls on Saturday.
The two-day celebrations will be held at Baobab Primary School, with representatives from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia having confirmed their participation.
The celebrations will begin on November 15, when First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa will spend the day with the participating children, while the main event will follow on November 16, featuring discussions on children’s rights and the future of the region.
The theme for this year’s event is “Educate and Skill the African Child for Posterity”.
Each participating country will bring a delegation of 10 children, while Zimbabwe, as the host, will provide the largest contingent.
Most of Zimbabwe’s participating children will come from Matabeleland North province, with others being drawn from the rest of the country.
The event will bring together children and Heads of State and Government to address critical issues affecting young people across the region.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Simon Masanga told The Sunday Mail that preparations were well underway.
“All the seven countries have confirmed participation. However, at the moment, we do not know which Heads of State have actually confirmed attendance,” he said.
“Preparations are now at an advanced stage, and we are ready to host the event.
“We expect to have 10 children from each participating country, accompanied by their President or delegated official, while from the host country, the majority of our children will come from the Matabeleland North province and the rest from other provinces.
“The children will be drawn from different levels; from primary to secondary school levels.”
He said transport and accommodation arrangements for participants travelling to Victoria Falls were also complete.
“We expect to have 8 000 children in total, with the programme set to begin on November 15 with an event to be hosted by the First Lady, while the official event will be held the following day. Delegates are expected to start departing on November 17.”
The celebrations will feature several events, including a ceremonial march, the lighting of a monument at the No Man’s Land post on the Zimbabwe-Zambia Bridge, and a presentation of an updated call for action from the children to the Heads of State.
The Regional World Children’s Day is an annual event aligned with World Children’s Day, which is celebrated globally on November 20.
This date commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
In the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region, this marks the fourth time the event has been held, with previous celebrations having been hosted by Botswana, Zambia and Namibia before coming to Zimbabwe this year.
Online Reporter