Tinaye Agere
Leonard Ncube
A carnival atmosphere engulfed Victoria Falls on Saturday morning when thousands of children who are attending the 2024 Regional World Children’s Day celebrations marched across the city amid music, dance and general jubilation.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service band led the procession with renditions of music that thrilled each of the seven participating countries.
The Chinotimba Primary School drum majorettes did not disappoint as they jelled well with the ZPCS music and spiced the march.
The procession, which is part of the main celebrations to be held at Baobab Primary School, started at the Chinotimba long-distance bus rank through Chinotimba suburb and into the venue.
Residents lined up the streets in Chinotimba suburb to catch a glimpse of the procession.
Occasionally the marchers stopped at strategic points and children took to the dance floor on the streets, adding flavour to what was already a marvellous morning to remember.
The weather was partly cloudy when the march started and it started drizzling when the procession reached the venue, making the weather perfect for the march.
The children were handed food packs and some water.
Victoria Falls-based muso Andrea the Vocalist then took to the stage to entertain his peers.
President Mnangagwa and his counterparts are already at the venue to lead the official proceedings.
More than 7 000 children from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have gathered for the official proceedings.
The Government of Zimbabwe, in partnership with UNICEF, is hosting the children.
The world celebrates World Children’s Day every year on November 20 to mark the anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This year’s celebrations were slated for November 16 to avoid disturbing school programmes.
Since 2021, four countries – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe – have come together to jointly celebrate the World Children’s Day.
This year, Zimbabwe will be hosting the 2024 commemorations, building on the momentum created by the commemorations in Botswana in 2021, Zambia in 2022 and Namibia last year.
Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa were this year invited to join the commemorations.
This day is dedicated to promoting, advocating,and celebrating child rights through dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.
The theme for the day is “Educate and Skill the African Child for Posterity”.
According to the programme, each country’s Head of State or head of delegation will reflect on the Call to Action after reflections by child representatives from each nation.
The children’s Torch of Hope will also be unveiled at the event.
The Heads of State will take the opportunity to renew commitment towards the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
After the proceedings and lunch, a total of 570 children will be taken on a tour of the Victoria Falls rainforest, one of the Natural Wonders of the World.
This evening, Vice President Dr Costantino Chiwenga will lead the monumental lighting of the Flame of Hope on the No Man’s Land on the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Online Reporter