The ManicaPost
Peter Mudimu
Flash back, 16th of June, 1976, the streets of Soweto and the entire world at large experienced something they hadn’t anticipated.
The voice of the African child was heard, it echoed above and beyond the African continent.
Thousands of children from different schools united as one and they took a stand against the apartheid government.
They demanded freedom to be black, they demanded a right to their own identity and they demanded the right to be taught in their own mother language.
Fast forward to the present day and so many children in South Africa and beyond are able to enjoy the rights that came after a lot of sacrifice.
So many people think we are happy and free because we live in a free nation right but alas, real freedom is far from our reach.
Entangled by the shackles of abuse which come in many forms, no one seems to notice because they are busy with their own lives.
So many young girls are seeing marriage as their only option but nobody ever bothers to ask why all these bad things are happening because their fingers are pointing at the girl’s character.
Children’s rights are regarded as a way for us to escape the “disciplinary committee” but that is not the case.
Nowadays, children are involved in all kind of things, including early indulgence in sexual activities and drug abuse.
The big question is why are they doing it?
Living in a world where the poor will continue to grow poorer while the rich become richer, life has lost its meaning.
Young people, your voice deserves to be heard.
Tomorrow is not promised but today is ours to live, hence the change should start now.
Yes, we are the leaders of tomorrow but there’s no tomorrow if today isn’t fixed.
Peter Mudimu a student at St Dominic’s High School
