Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu, [email protected]
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s recent appointments of Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza as Chief Justice and Vimbai Chikwenhere as Auditor-General are not only milestones for women in the country’s 46 years of independence.
More importantly, these appointments to top judicial and financial positions should serve as a clear demonstration that women, like men, have the potential to play pivotal roles in societies across the globe, rather than being confined to the Cinderella roles that some still believe define the female gender.
In Zimbabwe, and, no doubt, elsewhere on the African continent, women outnumber men, yet they are often confined to largely supportive roles. However, the two high-level appointments should galvanise efforts to ensure that the girl child receives greater support and protection, as she holds equal promise for the nation’s future, just like the boy child.
Yet the reality on the ground tells a different story. Reports from various parts of the country indicate that girl children continue to fall pregnant while still in school, depriving them of the education and skills necessary to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Compounding this challenge is the growing problem of substance abuse among young people, particularly boys, a situation that further dims hopes for a prosperous and progressive Zimbabwe.
The question that must therefore be asked is: what role are parents and guardians playing, alongside the church and political leadership, including Members of Parliament across the country, if they are unable to guide and protect children from such destructive and delinquent behaviour?
In rural areas, where the majority of Zimbabweans reside, numerous church denominations are active. Surely, members of these religious bodies should go beyond preaching and actively intervene to protect both the girl child and the boy child from harmful influences.
Equally, there is need to question why some Members of Parliament appear inactive instead of ensuring that children in their constituencies are safeguarded from destructive activities, so they can grow into responsible and productive citizens.
It also raises uncomfortable questions about whether some parents regard their daughters primarily as a source of income through lobola/roora, even when those girls lack the education and skills needed to sustain their future families or contribute to national development.
Traditional leaders, too, have a critical role to play and should act decisively against those who impregnate school-going children, as well as against drug peddlers and other socially destructive elements within their communities.
It is also widely acknowledged that some illicit drugs are trafficked from East Africa through neighbouring countries into Zimbabwe and beyond. This raises concerns about whether regional mechanisms are sufficiently robust to curb the flow of such substances and protect communities from their damaging effects.
Ultimately, urgent and collective action is required. The devil and his workers in the flesh must be stopped in their tracks once and for all to safeguard future generations, both in Zimbabwe and beyond.
