Junior Parliament a leadership development platform
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa recently officially opened the 32nd Junior Parliament in Mt Hampden as the country commemorated the Day of the African Child, an event which holds significant importance for the empowerment of the youths and the future of Zimbabwe.
The event, held at the new parliament building in Mt Hampden, featured the theme “Education for all children in Africa. The time is now”.
However, as the proceedings unfolded at the giant Parliament building, social media was awash with inquiries by Zimbabweans about the importance of the Junior Parliament and its origins.
Some because of lack of knowledge thought it was a waste of resources as it was of no importance to the children and Zimbabwe as whole.
To get an appreciation of the role of the Junior Parliament, the Zimpapers Politics Hub sought to unravel its origins and importance to the children and the future of the country.
According to the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) which superintends the event, the concept was derived from the Day of the African Child to allow children to articulate issues affecting them.
“The Day of the African Child, June 16 has its origins in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. On June 16, 1976, students from Soweto, a South African black township were demonstrating against the law forcing them to learn Afrikaans. As the protest grew, the South African police shot and killed several hundreds of young people,” explained ZYC on their website.
“In 1990, the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) declared June 16 to be the day for commemorating the massacre of those children while reflecting on their situation and lived realities vis-a-vis children’s rights. As a way to commemorate this day, the Government established the Children’s Parliament in 1991 to serve as a leadership development and advocacy arm on the rights and welfare of children and also to facilitate participation of youth in governance issues.”
The Junior Parliament has been a key method for ensuring that children have a voice in the decisions that affect them — one of the basic rights guaranteed children in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
This right to participation is as important as the rights to education and to health.
The annual Junior Parliament has become a forum for taking stock of whether the country is living up to its obligations under Convention, as well as the Africa Youth Charter and the Africa Charter on the rights and welfare of the child.
The Junior Parliament plays a crucial role in empowering the youth of Zimbabwe by providing them with a platform to voice their opinions, engage in political discourse, and contribute to the decision-making process.
By participating in the Junior Parliament, young people are given the opportunity to learn about governance, leadership, and the legislative process, which can have a profound impact on their personal development and future aspirations.
The President commended junior parliamentarians for clearly articulating issues affecting children, promising to do more in resolving the challenges.
He said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm exhibited by the junior MPs.
The junior MPs debated on socio-economic issues, their welfare and lack of resources in the health and education sectors among other issues.
They also raised the issue of discrimination of those with disabilities as well as the issue of drugs and substance abuse.
“The manner in which the junior members of Parliament have presented the various issues is commendable. As per the responses given, I want to assure you that my Government will give due attention to the concerns and ideas raised during this session,” President Mnangagwa said.
He said the Government was committed to developing young people to become productive citizens and responsible future leaders.
“The education transformation agenda also includes putting in place strong laws and regulations for inclusive education policies. Technical and vocational education is being strengthened to go hand-in-hand with the requirements of an education system of the 21st century,” he said.
“More than two million youths have the potential to be empowered with relevant skills through Vocational Training Centres. These can in-turn help grow, modernise and industrialise our economy. Many younger people must be given the opportunity to learn and acquire trades to improve their livelihoods. No one and no place must be left behind.”
The President implored more young people to enrol for the National Youth Service Zimbabwe Programme that he launched two months ago at Nhakiwa Vocational Training Centre in Uzumba, Mashonaland East province.
“This will instil discipline, patriotism, the ethic of hard honest work, as well as the spirit of Ubuntu/Hunhu, while encouraging volunteerism and service to the community and nation. Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo,”
He said it was sad that a notable number of young people, together with their families, have had drugs and substance abuse taking a toll on their lives.
“At Government level, a National Committee and a Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan is in place to coordinate our national response. I challenge you, the young people, to raise your voices and scale-up your activities to fight and reject drug and substance abuse. You must be at the forefront of developing youth-friendly activities, music and messages that help echo our calls for ‘a drug-free Zimbabwe’. I call upon the youth to report to adults and responsible authorities, those who deal and peddle drugs,” he said.
Indeed, the Junior Parliament serves as a training ground for future leaders, nurturing a sense of civic responsibility and encouraging active participation in the democratic process from a young age.
Through their involvement in the Junior Parliament, young Zimbabweans can develop a deeper understanding of the country’s political system and the role they can play in shaping its future.
The Junior Parliament reflects the commitment of the Government to inclusivity and representation.
By providing a platform for young voices to be heard, the Junior Parliament contributes to a more diverse and representative political landscape, ensuring that the concerns and perspectives of the youth are considered in the decision-making process.
The opening of the 32nd Junior Parliament in Zimbabwe underscores the country’s dedication to empowering its youth and fostering a new generation of informed, engaged, and proactive citizens