Chronicle Editor
Ranson Madzamba
THE independence of Zimbabwe brought about a number of initiatives to encourage young people to participate in leadership and decision making processes.
It is against this background that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training is now coming up with programmes that seek to channel youth energy, zeal and skills into productive community development activities.
In 1991 the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe was established and some people questioned its purpose and role as far as youth empowerment in the broader development discourse is concerned.
Well, the Junior Parliament seeks to provide young people with the platform to participate in matters that concern them by way of engaging the Government. The Constitution of Zimbabwe is in support of all this.
I have always said, anything for the youths, without the youths, is not for the youths. The Constitution thus grants our youths the platform to air out their needs, concerns, ideas and views.
The National Youth Policy 2020-25, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child also fortify the need to involve the youths in their matters.
The Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe, a replica of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, provides an opportunity for the Government to capture the thoughts and experiences of children and young people from all the constituencies in our great country.
Junior Parliamentarians are articulate secondary school students who over the years have been instrumental in bringing to the fore young people’s concerns and effectively participating in policy-making, community engagement, education, training and awareness, impacting behavioural change among youths.
In the process, the Junior Parliament has also established projects, clubs, and interventions aimed at tackling children’s issues in the community.
Outside their role in advocacy when they engage the Government, the Junior Parliament has become more influential in the school and community on emerging issues such as drug and substance abuse as well as mental health issues.
They are indeed opinion leaders with the power to influence behavioural change among the youth.
The Junior Parliament has been expanded to include former Junior Parliamentarians who are out of school, youths below the age of 21. This enables the programme to capture the views of youths and serves as a platform for continued engagement with the young people in decision making.
The Day of the African Child and The 2024 Junior Parliament Official Opening
The official opening of the Junior Parliament and belated commemorations of the Day of the African Child will take place at the Parliament of Zimbabwe on 3 July 2024.
The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Cde ED Mnangagwa is expected to be the Guest of Honour.
The Day of the African Child is befitting as it is a reminder of sacrifices young people make for their countries. On 16 June 1976, more than 700 children were massacred in Soweto, South Africa, while protesting against racial discrimination and poor quality education.
In our context, Zimbabwe lost more than 6 000 women and children in Chimoio at the Chindunduma educational base on 23 November 1977 and 1 028 at the Nyadzonia massacre in August 1976. The women and children were assembled to participate in the liberation struggle.
The Day of the African Child thus stands to commemorate these young people and the brave actions they took in defence of their liberty, fraternity and equality.
It is with that in mind that celebrating the children of Africa has been adopted for serious introspection and re-commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing children across the continent.
This year’s session will pay particular attention to the Day of the African Child theme, “Education for all Children in Africa: the TIME IS NOW”.
The official opening and first sitting of the 32nd Junior Parliament Session will see the young people sharing their experiences, those of their peers, lobby for alignment of laws and adoption of policies for children in the presence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and his Cabinet, Members of Parliament, Government officials, civic society and children.
This is aimed at bringing the policy-makers to terms with children’s experiences, concerns, fears, and recommendations and to put into place systems for the benefit of children.
The 32nd Junior Parliament presents an opportunity for all stakeholders in adolescents and youth rights, including Government, Non-Governmental and international entities to reflect on investment for children in Zimbabwe.
The session is an opportune moment to take stock of the progress made and the outstanding challenges towards the full realisation of the rights of young people in Zimbabwe.
The young people will present their priority issues to the Government. The session will also see the Junior Parliament actively involved in advocating for child-friendly policies and supporting the Government in outreach programmes required to reach young people and children in their various constituencies.
The official opening of the Junior Parliament mimics the Parliament of Zimbabwe Official Opening by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Ranson Madzamba is the Acting Director Communication and Advocacy for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
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