admin
Brie
Every child has the right to be heard and active participation in some of the important decision-making conventions goes a long way in making this possible.
The Zimbabwean children are lucky to have passionate representatives who are bold enough to stand up for their rights at any platform.
Child parliamentarians Nicole Christodolu, Denzel Ngwenya, Nathaniel Manjoro and Kudakwashe Mhundwa made touching revelations on the plights of children living in all parts of the country at the inaugural conference on Child Sensitive Social 2014.
The workshop was organised by the Women’s University in partnership with Unicef.
In a dedicated session chaired by his Excellency, the child president Ntandoyenkosi Will Moyo, their various presentations attracted standing ovation from a crowd that comprised of students and representatives from various organisations who were present at the two day event on Thursday.
The children, through well researched reports, proposed solutions to topics: “Barriers to the rights of the girl child”, “Experiences of children living with disabilities”, “Child friendly budgeting” and “The ideal childhood”.
The boldest of the delegation was Denzel Ngwenya from Sizane High School in Bulawayo.
His presentation that looked at the effects child friendly budgeting gave stakeholders a lot to think about.
While at first his topic seemed irrelevant, he highlighted the implications of not considering children.
“It is true that our economy is not strong but the little that is there in the national budget should consider the needs children. Each year, we are suffering in all sectors because we are not regarded as important,” he said
In that respect, he presented cases of the effects to children in his constituency as well as areas like Epworth in Harare.
In conclusion, he challenged the authorities to invest in children if the future of the country is to transform for the better.
“We are not the leaders of tomorrow but the game changers of today. This country used to boast of a high literacy rate of 98 percent but it has since dropped to 92 percent. At this rate, it will be 85 percent soon until we reach a stage where we have nothing to boast about,” he said.
Prince Edward high school student, Nathaniel Manjoro, also gave the touching predicaments of disabled children. He spoke of his first hand encounters and the challenges that he has been facing in his life.
“There is a lot of discrimination that we face on a daily basis. Everywhere you go, people look at you differently. They take time to accept you if they ever accept you at all,” he said.
He said while they struggle to come to terms with their disability, they have other factors like abuse, being neglected and lack of equal opportunities to deal with each day.
“We have to face double or triple the troubles of other children because of our disability.
“Not a lot of opportunities are available as most unemployed people with disabilities end up vending. Because of this, it is scary for us to think about what the future holds,” he said
In a perfect world, children’s rights are considered while parents and guardians give their children love and security.
These were the sentiments of another speaker, Nicole Christodolu of Filabusi High School in Insiza.
While she pointed out
the importance of African values in moulding children, she also highlighted the importance of considering other ideologies to get the best of both worlds.
It was the last speaker, Kudakwashehounourable Mhundwa from Vainona High School who closed the presentation with the plight of the girl child.
As she advocated for equality and empowerment,
she brought to light the abuses girls face especially under some devious religious
sects.
“The Government should put in place legislature to bring to book, all those who are preying on vulnerable girls after they have been educated about it.
“It is not right for a 13 year old girl to be married off to a 70 year-old man with 15 other wives because the so called holy spirit has instructed it,” she said.
Online Reporter