Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka, Zimpapers Politics Hub
PARTICIPATION is a key aspect of sustainable development and good governance, with Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) specifically underscoring the vital role of governance, inclusion and participation, alongside human rights.
In this context, child participation has emerged as an increasingly important phenomenon in the era of sustainable governance, leading to growing calls for governments to create dedicated child participation structures within local governance.
Guiding this mainstreaming of child participation in Zimbabwe are key international legal instruments: the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) of 1989 and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) of 1990.
Children are inherently entitled to participate in their community affairs under the governance of local authorities. While local government is ideally positioned to facilitate child participation, making this a reality presents significant challenges.
This is largely due to deeply rooted, mixed cultural, social and religious views that often perceive children as having limited status and capacity.
To bridge this gap, the establishment of junior councils has created a crucial interface between the young people of a city and the city council.
This structure enables young citizens to express their opinions and feelings, while also allowing members of the senior local authority to gain insights into civic affairs and foster a desire among younger generations to actively participate in city matters.
Tailored to operate under the senior local authority, the junior council model has gradually spread across local authorities in Zimbabwe, encompassing both urban and rural areas.
In Zimbabwe’s urban and rural communities, a quiet revolution is underway, fuelled by the establishment of junior councils.
Once viewed as mere symbolic bodies, these councils have evolved into a critical platform for youth participation in local governance, proving that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow but vital change agents today.
This structure enables young citizens to express their opinions, while also allowing senior local authorities to gain insights into civic affairs.
This transformative journey is being actively supported by a programme run by Gender Links, with funding from the European Union in partnership with Hivos and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Youth Desk.
The programme is specifically designed to empower young individuals, typically between the ages of 15 and 35, by involving them in the decision-making and governance processes of their local communities.
Its core aim is to promote the visibility, meaningful contribution, and maximum participation of youth in local governance, enabling them to contribute their unique perspectives and leadership skills.
One such programme, which involved youth, junior councillors, and junior members of parliament from Bulawayo, Lupane, Gwanda and Umzingwane, is rooted in the fundamental belief that young people are not just beneficiaries of development but active agents of change.
Through such initiatives, junior councillors are becoming the role models and change agents their communities need, proving that investing in youth participation is a powerful strategy for sustainable development and good governance.
Bulawayo Junior City Council, Deputy Junior Mayor Kudzwaishe Mukondiwa embodies the success of this initiative, which provides a crucial platform for young people to participate in local governance issues.
His council’s initiatives, which range from a weekly radio show discussing youth issues to targeted campaigns on drug abuse and gender-based violence, demonstrate a deep understanding of their communities’ challenges.
“We have a radio programme that airs every Friday at 4PM, where we discuss issues affecting young people.
“In addition, we organise pad drives in schools, particularly targeting primary schools in our wards,” he said.
Kudzwaishe said the council runs campaigns on drug and substance abuse, gender-based violence, bullying and cyberbullying.
The council is also planning to launch a social media page, specifically focused on addressing cyberbullying, recognising its high relevance for today’s youth.
He added that the various Junior Councillors act as peer counsellors in their schools, offering advice and helping young people with questions.
The council also holds regular discussions with the Senior Council to highlight issues young people face in their schools and wards, ensuring these concerns are considered.
Kudzwaishe hailed GenderLinks Zimbabwe, saying it has been instrumental in reshaping their understanding of their role.
“We didn’t fully realise that as young people, we should be deeply involved in policy making,” he explained.
“We used to think our role was simply to be a voice for the young people to the Senior Council, but through training by GenderLinks Zimbabwe, we now understand we have a much greater responsibility as young leaders.”
The training also taught them that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow but are a vital part of today, and that their engagement with senior authorities can bring forth innovative ideas for building a better future.
Kudzwaishe stressed that the youth’s role extends beyond their council positions.
“We have a duty to educate our peers on the importance of being involved in decision-making because the decisions made by the council or local government affect everyone,” he said.
“As the Junior Council, we have been taught to encourage our peers to participate in platforms like budget consultative meetings and speak up for themselves.”
The programme, he noted, has also taught them the importance of being great leaders who inspire change and empower other young people to aspire to positions of influence.
In a similar vein, Lupane Local Board Junior Councillor Millicent Yohane said as junior councillors, they have helped a local school by providing sanitary wear to underprivileged girls.
“We did this to combat period poverty and ensure that no child stops attending school because of a lack of supplies.
“We also have programmes that teach people how to make soap, so that if they are vulnerable and in need of income, they can showcase those talents and generate some revenue for themselves.
“As junior councillors, in partnership with the local board and senior councillors, we are also planning on opening a library for the community,” she said.
“We believe it’s important that everyone has a chance to spend time there and read. Some people just love quietness, so having a library would allow them to sit down, concentrate on their books and perhaps gain more knowledge.”
Millicent said Gender Links Zimbabwe has been instrumental in managing their programmes by providing funding.
For example, their commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day was funded by Gender Links, Hivos, and the local board itself, enabling them to give sanitary wear to girls at all local schools in Lupane.
Millicent noted that Gender Links Zimbabwe has helped contribute to the budget for building their library next year.
Gwanda Rural District Junior Councillor Onyinyechi Sibanda, from Manama High School in Ward 17, Gwanda South, said through their work as junior councillors, they have managed to collaborate with junior councillors from Gwanda Municipality in peaceful protests against drug and substance abuse.
“Gender Links Zimbabwe helped us, along with the police and fire departments of Gwanda.
“We urged the youth to stop drug and substance abuse because it has led to unwanted pregnancies, health problems, and people dropping out of school.
“We are also encouraging the youth to join hands with us to fight against drug and substance abuse, as it has become a national problem,” she said.
Gender Links Zimbabwe’s programme co-ordinator, Mr Tapiwa Zvaraya, said the initiative has sown the seeds for increased youth participation in governance spaces.
“In today’s environment, this is one way to keep the youth off the streets,” he said.
Mr Zvaraya said other participating councils should take the lessons learned and implement them in their own communities.
“It is our hope that they become the change agents and role models in their communities,” he said.
