Day of the African Child: No to child abuse

Youth Buzz

Fatima Bulla-Musakwa

FRIDAY marked the annual commemoration of the International Day of the African Child.

This was initiated by the then Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) to honour black schoolchildren who were victims of the June 16, 1976 Soweto massacre that was carried out by the South African apartheid authorities.

The children were killed after protesting against the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in black schools and the poor quality of education offered in those learning institutions.

This year, Zimbabwe observed the day with the unveiling of a new Junior Cabinet, led by incoming Child President Neville Mavu.

Remarkably, Mavu, a Lower Sixth learner at Goromonzi High School, is passionate about the provision of quality education.

His campaign towards being selected child president included debating on the transition of the school curriculum from Education 3.0 to 5.0. This is a topic that is dear to the soft-spoken yet articulate learner studying Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science.

“This day raises awareness about the need to continue improving our education system since the Soweto children were massacred while marching against an unjust education system during the apartheid era,” he told The Sunday Mail last week.

“As Zimbabwe, we hold the official opening of the Junior Parliament around that day, which is a way of paying tribute to their lives.

“It is also a way of continuing to raise awareness on the need for continuous betterment of the education system.”

He said during his tenure, he intends to raise awareness on novel issues affecting young people in the country, including child marriages and drug abuse. He is also clear on the strategy he and his Cabinet intend to use in spearheading awareness on these vices.

His approach is geared towards having peers create short films, dramas and music that incorporate messages against the issues.

“The child president is an advocate of children’s rights and welfare,” he said.

“I believe that my responsibility is to ensure that children are taken care of and that I need to advocate the improvement of children’s lives in Zimbabwe.”

Mavu’s fairytale rise began when he enrolled for Form One at Goromonzi High School, an institution that had produced another child president before, who served as a source of inspiration. After joining the debate and public speaking club, destiny located him and he was well on his way to becoming a junior parliamentarian. A skilled debater and public speaker, Mavu excelled in a short space of time and with each passing competition.

“After an announcement was made during school assembly, calling for contestants to run for the local parliamentary seat, we were tasked with debating a range of topics during debate sessions to qualify,” he added.

“I presented a speech while running for the post, which saw me being chosen to represent the school.

“I went on to compete to represent Goromonzi South and won.”

For the MP seat, participating learners representing each school voted for the best presentation through a secret ballot.

At provincial level, Mavu again proved his mettle by winning the position of Minister of State for Mashonaland East and qualified as candidate for the child president post.

Contesting for the Minister of State post involved presenting a speech on specific topics, which earned each contestant marks from the adjudicators.

His presentations had the adjudicators eating out of the palm of his hand as he excelled beyond measure. He said his success brought unimaginable joy, even to his family.

In victory, he remained alive to the onerous task that lay ahead of him.

“I thank God, who is the one who helped me to reach this level.

“My family was happy and were supportive from the time I became junior MP.

“Being selected child president is something that is honourable. People look up to me and it means my objective is to advocate children’s welfare.”

Being child president has not only presented Mavu with an onerous duty, but this has been an addition to his daily responsibility of focusing on his studies.

“Of course, being a junior president is important and has its responsibilities, but I think I have to balance that with my schoolwork as well,” said Mavu.

“Whether I am at school or free on weekends, I need to utilise that time to attend to my studies to ensure that when I am called for meetings, I would have covered much ground.

“It also means I have to carry my work and books wherever I go.”

◆ Twitter: @BullaFatima