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Minister Ncube

Nyore Madzianike Eastern Edition
MUTARE Boys High School student, Raphael Mupande, has been elected National Junior Councils Association president.

He was elected during the association’s Annual Conference held in Mutare last week and ended on Friday.

Manyame Rural District Junior Council was voted the best council in Zimbabwe, with Mhondoro RDC and Marondera being the runners-up.

The guest of honour, Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage Minister Cde Abednico Ncube, challenged senior councillors to create a favourable environment for their junior counterparts to participate in various national issues.

In a speech read on his behalf by Manicaland Provincial Administrator, Mr Edgar Senza, at the official opening of the conference, Cde Ncube, said his ministry would work with junior councillors in their various endeavours.

The annual conference was running under the theme: “Mainstreaming the participation of children and youths with disabilities into local governance.”

“The theme of this year’s conference is critical in that it creates awareness on the responsibility of the local authorities to mainstream issues related to children with disabilities in their policy making and implementation.

“I therefore applaud the executive of the National Junior Council of Zimbabwe for recognising the importance of promoting an inclusive society for the benefit of young people,” he said.

“On its part, the ministry is also determined to support your initiatives and programmes by ensuring that Rural District Councils continue to facilitate initiatives such as Junior Councils to enable young people to contribute meaningfully towards national development.”

Cde Ncube also called on various stakeholders to focus their efforts towards tackling issues that affect young people with disabilities.

He said young people living with disabilities were being marginalised on issues that had to do with education and health care.

“Although the Constitution guarantees the right of young people more often than not, those with disabilities face social, legal and other barriers that continue to prevent them from enjoying those rights on equal basis with others.

“Therefore, there is need for stakeholders to re-double their efforts in ensuring that issues affecting persons with disabilities are addressed urgently in both programming and implementation of policies and programmes.

“It is in my view that the above noted disparities can be addressed in a variety of ways including the crafting of policy and legal frameworks that promote and protect the rights of the disabled,” he said.

Cde Ncube also urged young people to remain disciplined and respect each other’s views and opinions.

Mutare mayor, councillor Tatenda Nhamarare, said young people’s participation in issues of local governance would help them develop their careers.

Clr Nhamarare also said their participation would assist them in career development.