Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, [email protected]
THE role of parents and guardians and the community at large is critical in curbing social ills bedeviling the younger generation such as drug and substance abuse, teenage pregnancies, and child prostitution, among others.
An intense discussion ensued over the subject during the belated Day of the African Child commemorations held in Kwekwe recently.
Child parliamentarians and councillors drawn from all five constituencies and three local authorities in the district converged at the Kwekwe Civic Centre Chambers where they took turns to share insights over social ills in society.
These include child marriages, drug and substance abuse, bullying as well as the role of technologies in exacerbating such problems.
Held under the theme ‘The right of the child in the digital environment’, the event was also attended by junior councillors and stakeholders.
Participants said parents and guardians must reclaim their space to shape societal values while calling for enhanced adoption and access to ICTs to curb some of the challenges.
Mbizo junior legislator, Keyless Chidarikire, said while child delinquency was to blame for societal immorality, parents and guardians were equally to blame.
“Parents and guardians are neglecting their children by not fully supporting them financially or otherwise. Some children are growing up under violent parents who fight on a daily basis and this is fueling cases of bullying in schools as these children tend to be violent,” she said.
“Some parents don’t even buy sanitary wear for their children and this is pushing the girl child into premature sex for money. They turn to elderly men popularly known as blessers so that they can get sanitary wear and this in turn fuels cases of child pregnancy, early marriage, and even cases of HIV.”
Her Silobela counterpart, Sithabile Chowe, said gold panners were luring young girls with money, taking advantage of their vulnerability and needs.
“The other challenge is that boys are dropping out of school to join the gold mining profession and there are a lot of violence cases, which emanate from the pits,” she said.
“Some girls have to walk long distances to access water, and along the way, a lot happens including sexual abuse. We are calling upon responsible authorities to ensure that girls have access to clean water so that there are no such challenges.”
Kwekwe Central legislator, Innocent Norman, called upon relevant authorities to speed up the construction of Globe and Phoenix Primary School.
“Children are currently learning under difficult conditions. We are calling upon relevant authorities to look at the issue and fast-track its construction,” he said.
Zibagwe RDC Junior Council chairperson, Tinotenda Kanodziya, reiterated the need for parents to play their roles accordingly and balance gender sensitivity.
“You find out that these days, every programme that comes is targeting the girl child, but as boys, we also contribute to the problems facing the girl child. I think there is overemphasis and boys are now being left out,” he said.
“For example, CAMFED does not include boys, it’s for girls only. Due to poverty, some parents are sending their children to work in mines to fend for the family. We also have some who marry off their children as a way of putting food on the table.”
Kwekwe District Schools Inspector, Mr Herbert Maziriri, said they will line up a number of forums where children will meet to discuss their issues.
“As a district, we are working on a number of initiatives so that you as children can meet regularly and discuss your own issues and come up with possible solutions. Such engagements are important since you know problems that bedevil your constituency,” he said.
The Day of the African Child falls on June 16 annually and in Zimbabwe the commemorations saw the official opening of the Junior Parliament by President Mnangagwa.
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