Story by Wellington Makonese
GOROMONZI High School student, Neville Mavu is the new Child President after being elected during elections held in Harare Monday evening.
Neville Mavu shrugged off competition from 10 other aspirants to become new Child President, taking over from Unathi Nyoni, whose tenure ends upon the opening of the 31st Session of the Children’s Parliament on Friday.
“I’m so excited that they have showed confidence in me, I seek to bring change from mere talk about drugs and child marriages but action and more action stemming from community initiatives,” said the new child president.
Deputising him is Theophelus Beans from Zimuto High School in Masvingo, while Valeria Matanhire has been elected Speaker of the Junior Parliament and Gamuchirai Muzvondiwa is the Junior Senate President.
“I believe I’m the voice of the youth and getting the opportunity to speak for them is a blessing since I come from Masvingo a place which many don’t look up to,” noted Beans.
While Matanhire said, “Issues of child marriages and substance abuse are going to be pushed because older people have a hand in the problems.”
“My idea is to fight for girls rights and show the girl child that we can do it and move away from social ills,” weighed in Muzvondiwa.
The parliament mirrors the national setup constituting the women quota, while six out of 10 presidential aspirants are women.
“In total we have 350 members elected from the 10 constituencies and we have adopted the same system from the national parliament. We have more female representation. The process has been transparent and improved from last year and we have the right calibre of leaders that can enunciate issues that are troubling youths,” Zimbabwe Youth Council Programmes Manager, Mr Lungani Zwangobani.
The newly elected junior parliament is expected to lead proceedings when the 31st Session of the Children’s Parliament opens on the 16th of June with President Emmerson Mnangagwa expected to officiate.
