Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke-Herald Correspondent
CHINHOYI Technical High School Lower Six pupil, Lionel Mazarire, has been elected the 33rd Child president of Zimbabwe, and has vowed to champion the rights of children across the nation and ensure child-focused policies are not merely symbolic, but tangible and impactful.
Speaking shortly after his election in Harare yesterday, Mazarire, who succeeds Pious Nleya of Mzilikazi High School in Bulawayo, said he was humbled by the opportunity and ready to serve. “I feel good because this is the platform that I have been waiting for all my life,” he said.
“I have worked hard to get here, of course with help from colleagues, and it is something great because we have finally achieved what we wanted.”
The swearing-in ceremony is set to take place on Friday at the Parliament of Zimbabwe, where President Mnangagwa is expected to officiate as Guest of Honour.
Mazarire underscored the importance of turning child rights from theoretical documents into lived realities.
“Child rights do not have to be just words written with ink on paper. They have to be something that a child gets,” he said.
“This is where we advocate for the budget and planning for child rights, and I will make sure to advocate for that.”
Mazarire added that his leadership would focus on listening to the voices of children and responding to their challenges.
“The greatest challenge you can face is trying to solve a problem you do not know. So if they tell me their problems, now we have a channel of communication to actually solve them,” said the child president.
Asked about his vision for the African child, the newly elected leader painted a picture of resilience and determination.
“The African child has always been deprived of his rights. They took away his land, and now he fights to get it back. There is a spirit inside us telling us to fight, to compel and to achieve greater heights,” he said.
Newly elected Speaker of the Junior Parliament, Michael Ndambani, promised a proactive legislative term.
“I am the new Speaker of Parliament for the 33rd Junior Parliament Session,” said Ndambani. We are going to establish new policies that are going to help the African child, help the Zimbabwean child, and ensure our rights are embraced and upheld.”
He said the junior legislative body would not be symbolic, but a powerful voice to engage the country’s leadership. “My Parliament and I are going to make sure that these policies are strong and firm and will be heard by our Senior Executive, our President,” Ndambani said.
“Working alongside our Junior president, we are going to make sure our Parliament is the best of all time.”
The 33rd Session of the Junior Parliament is expected to usher in a new era of youth leadership, advocacy, and meaningful participation in national discourse.
