The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Boys’ High Upper Six pupil, and Mutare junior mayor, Councillor Nick Wela, was elected National Junior Councils Association of Zimbabwe (NJCAZ) president last week on Saturday in Harare.
Councillor Wela said local authorities must prioritise measures that keep children away from drug abuse and early marriages.
NJCAZ was formed out of the realisation of the need for a well coordinated effort in advocating child friendly policies and programmes that positively impact on young Zimbabweans’ lives.
Junior councils as a duplication of senior councils are establishments in which young people influence decision making and socio–economic development in their communities.
The eloquent Mutare junior mayor’ election to the NJCAZ presidency during the annual national junior councillors’ conference coincided with the election of City of Mutare to hold the NJCA Advisory Board chairmanship office.
City of Mutare will be represented in that office by Mr Noel Mushangwe, the City of Mutare’s Acting Housing Director, and Junior Council Patron as well as Mrs Nyengeterai Nemaunga who is City of Mutare Junior Council focal person.
In an interview after his election, Cllr Wela said: “Local authorities need to enhance their initiatives towards keeping children away from drugs and early marriages.
“There a number of ways of achieving that which include, but not limited to provision of enough recreational facilities. It is without doubt that child marriages are rising daily, drug abusers and rapists roam freely on our streets, while poor children are victims of abuse and road related accidents.
“As leaders, that is our job, to raise awareness where possible, to voice our opinions and fight for children’s rights. Being the voice of the voiceless is not a joke, but a huge responsibility.
“As the president, I know the journey will not be an easy one, but I promise to fight to end all child rights abuse. I promise to leave no stone unturned, try every method possible, and walk the painful road to ensure that children’s rights are known, heard and upheld.
“As we advocate child participation in all local authorities, fight for the best interests of the children to enhance a non-discriminative and harmonious city, province and country, let us foster unity of purpose.”
