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with the launch of the National Youth Policy. The two activities were held in tandem since they are a key to the participation and empowerment of children and young people in the country.
Harare International Conference Centre was the venue as scores of people from all walks of life thronged the auditorium from as early as 7.30am to witness junior parliamentarians in action.
Despite the Parliament session starting two hours behind the scheduled time, the session saw the appreciative crowd responding accordingly.
It was a charming session with students from all of the country’s provinces convening for a worthy cause to discuss issues affecting them.
The Speaker of Parliament, Kudakwashe Chikondore, took to the task at around 1pm starting the session with a prayer.
Leader of the House, Honourable Albert Banda, who is also the Prime Minister, was the one directing traffic during the course of the session.
The Speaker brought the motion on the theme of the Day of African Child commemorations, “Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting Children: Our Collective Responsibility”.
“This session begins with a motion on the theme of the day, any objections?” announced the Speaker and no objections were put forward.
The Speaker went on to elaborate on the theme saying that culture is always giving preferential treatment to a male child.
He also castigated the harmful cultural practices that always see the girl child on the receiving end as a result of early marriages with no action being taken.
Hence, the Speaker elaborated on how the girl child must be freed from such practices including “appeasing the dead”, “kuzvarira” among other practices. Speaker Chikondore opened the debate to the floor.
“Any debate on the motion?” he asked and the House responded by standing up.
“Hon Mugavani, I recognise you,” said the Speaker with Hon Mugavani responding to the motion.
Hon Mugavani took a swipe at all forms of violence being perpetrated on either women or men and boys or girls either at home or school.
“It is now a cause for concern with several cases of violence being reported on a daily basis. Women or men are surviving under harsh conditions with domestic violence surging at an alarming rate.
“Again, bullying in schools has become worrisome; a case in hand is that of a student at Prince Edward School who lost his life because of this form of violence. Hence, there is need for legislators to come up with measures to revise their sentences and impose stiffer punishment to would-be offenders,” he said.
Honourable Sharon Banda attacked a cultural practice of using a girl child to appease the dead.
“Something that is disturbing is why a girl child should be used to appease the dead in such cases where the living will be haunted by a dead person’s spirit.
“The liberation struggle was fought not only to liberate our elders, but it was also meant for children as well,” said Hon Banda.
Chief Mutasa interjected on the motion claiming that it was culturally correct to use the girl child to appease the dead.
“Appeasing the dead with a girl child is our culture. The spirit of the dead cannot be appeased using tablets or pills,” said Chief Mutasa.
During the course of the debate, what actually left the auditorium spellbound was when Hon Chido Hukuimwe who is deaf and dumb gave Government thumbs up for supporting children with disabilities.
“Firstly, allow me to thank our Government for supporting all children with disabilities after measures were put in place in 1987,” said Hon Hukuimwe.
She added: “However, on the contrary, it is worrying to see some of the families with dis-abled children ill-treating them because of their condition.
“A number of my friends were forced to be off school at tender age because of the discrimination they suffered at the hands of insupportive parents.”
Mutasa South constituency legislator Hon Mazvita Nyandoro, who is also the First Vice President, bemoaned the ill-practice of children being forced into early marriages.
“A lot of young girls were forced off school at tender ages as a result of being coerced into early marriages. They have been deprived of their rights for a long time with some being used for ‘kuzvarira’, a practice whereby a young girl is married to an old man,” said Hon Nyandoro.
Leader of the House Hon Banda adjourned the session with the Speaker asking senior Hon ministers to respond to the children’s plight.
However, one of the ministers responded that it is important to change culture for one’s self.
The minister also said that there is need to identify what one wants to change since it has been there for many generations.
Online Reporter