The day has been celebrated on June 16 since 1991 in honor of students who died during the Soweto uprisings in 1976 during a protest against the oppressive Bantu Education Act which provided enslaving education to African children in particular and the draconian apartheid system in general.
This year the day is being commemorated under the theme “Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all Children’s Rights”.
On this day, CIZC urges the Zimbabwean government to uphold children’s and youth rights enshrined in the country’s Constitution (Chapter 4) particularly the right to education, shelter, healthcare and other social services.
As the African continent commemorates The Day of the African Child, CIZC is concerned that like in other conflict-torn countries, Zimbabwean children and youth have fallen victim to the political and economic crises currently prevailing in the country.
As a result of Zimbabwe’s political crisis, the economy has been on a continuous downward trend and the consequences on the future and welfare of children in the country have been quite dire.
CIZC is concerned that Zimbabwe’s political crisis has led the government to turn a blind eye on the welfare of children while splashing millions on events merely meant to entrench politicians’ stay in power.
It is common knowledge that Zimbabwe’s education sector remains in a critical state yet the government chooses to splash millions on political events and in the process manipulating children, who are forced to leave class and attend the ruling party, Zanu (PF’s) events.
Clear examples include President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash which costed around $800 000 and the recently held Million Man march in solidarity with President Mugabe’s leadership which costed around $600 000.
Also, government recently splashed $2 million to hold a war vets indaba and revelations that the First Lady, Grace Mugabe’s Meet The People rallies were being bankrolled by the State point to misplaced priorities and a lack of urgency on the part of government to improve children’s welfare around the country.
CIZC fears that the political crisis currently prevailing in the country will continue to affect the economy and children will be the biggest victims as critical sectors such as education and health will continue to suffer while politicians fight to secure political offices.
CIZC implores the government to prioritize children’s welfare and desist from manipulating the young population to serve personal political interests as has been witnessed over the past years.
In this regard, CIZC would like to reiterate its firm opposition to the issue of the recently introduced National Pledge which we feel is an attempt by the government to indoctrinate children at a tender age against their religious values.
This year’s commemorations of The Day of the African Child come at a time young people are currently languishing in remand prison after staging a demonstration against government’s misrule and CIZC challenges the government to desist from arbitrary arrests to silence discerning voices.
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