Online Reporter
Takunda Gambiza-Herald Reporter
THE City of Harare has adopted its first Junior Council policy aimed at strengthening youth participation in local governance and developing future civic leaders, Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said yesterday.
The new council will serve the 2026-2027 term under a ward-based structure aligned to Harare’s 45 wards, giving young leaders practical experience in democratic governance and municipal leadership.
The policy marks the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and provides a legal and governance framework to guide the Junior Council programme, which was established in 1953.
Addressing the inauguration of the 73rd Junior Council, Mayor Mafume said the new framework would ensure continuity, accountability and inclusivity while preparing young people for future leadership roles.
“For the first time in Zimbabwe, the City of Harare has developed and adopted a Junior Council policy, providing a clear legal and governance framework for the programme.
“This milestone ensures continuity, accountability, transparency and effective participation of young people in local governance,” he said.
He said the new governance structure mirrors that of the senior council, enabling junior councillors to understand committee systems, democratic processes and municipal administration.
Clr Mafume acknowledged former junior councillor and Alderman Lungani Jangobani for his contribution to the development of the policy, saying it demonstrated that investing in young leaders produced lifelong civic leadership.
He said the ward-based system would broaden representation and provide equal opportunities for young people across Harare to participate in decision-making despite changes from the previous school-based model.
Acting Town Clerk Advocate Warren Chiwawa urged the newly elected junior councillors to lead with integrity and champion community service, environmental protection and responsible citizenship.
“You have been entrusted to represent the voices, aspirations and concerns of children and young people while contributing to the vision of building a cleaner, smarter, safer and more inclusive Harare,” he said.
National Junior Council coordinator Mr Dalington Mupfupi challenged the councillors to support Government efforts to improve service delivery while maintaining academic excellence.
“You are not merely observers; you are the frontline monitors and ambassadors of these very standards,” he said, referring to the recently launched Minimum Service Delivery Standards for local authorities.
Mr Mupfupi also encouraged the junior councillors to promote the citizen engagement scoring platform in their schools and communities to strengthen accountability in local government.
The Junior Council programme has been running for more than seven decades and is designed to nurture young leaders through active participation in civic affairs before they assume leadership roles in society.
