adminRumbidzai Mbewe, Sunday Life Correspondent
IN the last decade, the City of Bulawayo has expanded immensely with the inner city and outlying suburban areas growing to the extent that the city has become a jungle to children. Yet children need the freedom to play out, get about actively and independently and feel a sense of belonging. In a bid to bring back the importance and value of children, Indaba Trust has organised a three-day festival, 8 to 10 December at the City Hall car park.
In an interview, the information officer of the trust, Vimbai Nhutsve said the Khalipha-Ngwarayi-Wise up festival was an inaugural event that seeks to celebrate the state of children’s well being through an exhibition and child focused symposiums and activities on children’s essential services. The festival seeks to initiate a process of making Bulawayo child friendly again.
“This festival is a stand up call to all concerned with children’s well being including themselves to stand up and take action towards the improvement of children’s well being in the city of Bulawayo. It will give space and a voice for children, child led groups and stakeholders,” she said.
She said many children in the city have been exposed to drug abuse and sexual escapades through the emergence of rampant Vuzu parties. She said children are channeling their energies into these dangerous parties because they do not have the proper facilities where they can spend their time.
“Children have the right to play as enshrined in both the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) but they have no recreational facilities. Where you used to find play centers you now find churches and houses,” she said.
The festival will run under the theme “How Child Friendly Is Your City? Making Bulawayo Child Friendly Again”. The festival is open for every child and everyone who is interested in issues to do with children.
“Everyone is welcome and we are not charging anything as Khalipha is for everyone. We are also calling on those who offer services meant for the child to come and showcase what they do, these could be our early childhood learning and development centers such as pre-schools, those with recreational facilities and many others,” she said.
Vimbai said children need adults to act with them and for them to uphold their rights and enable their full participation which is particularly important as they will be future adult citizens.
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