The Sunday Mail
Junior Councillors
Children are born innocent and vulnerable into a world full of uncertainty. It is therefore the duty of adults, particularly parents and guardians to ensure that the lives and future of these children are safe and bright.However such is not the case in today’s society.
“Existing is instinctual, it is involuntary, with the primary goal of just getting from one day to the next without regard to quality.”
With issues like vendor menace, public transport mismanagement, discrimination, unavailability of adequate recreational facilities, environmental pollution, lack of street lighting and safety, questions rattle in the minds of the Prospective Junior Councillors.
“Is there still light at the end of the tunnel, or it’s an oncoming train? What is being done about these illegal bus stops and illegal vehicles that have now dominated our city?
‘‘Are the children of Harare safe? Where are the City authorities in the midst of all this chaos? Are we guaranteed what we are pormised? Are we living or existing?
What is a good city? Moreover what is a child friendly city?
A good city is a child friendly one and a child friendly city is an exquisite one. People underestimate the importance of a Child-friendly City. As a nation, we must focus on the bigger picture for a better future.
Recently, we as the Prospective Junior Councillors launched the ‘Make Harare Child-Friendly’ campaign. Our main objective is obtaining a City where any child does not have to fear for their lives when crossing roads just because traffic lights are not functional or drivers are not observing road rules. We want access to public recreational facilities such as clean and well-kept libraries and parks.
Clean water and electricity must be viewed as a need.
The sunshine city is a sunshine city only by name.
The serene environment that was prevalent has been replaced by uncollected garbage. Such is the state of Matapi residential flats in Mbare. Burst sewer pipes have become the order of the day.
Throughout the city you will find dumps in very peculiar places; next to schools, next to actual signs that say ‘no dumping’, this list goes on and on.
We must strive for a cleaner environment not only to have a good image of the city but also for the health of the community. This has left over 54.3 % of children exposed to diseases that are avoidable.
Who knows what bacteria or viruses lurk in the dumps in which some children are keen on playing in.
We want a safer city regrettably remembering the death of a Girls High Form 4 student and a 35 year old man recently.
What is being done about these illegal bus stops in any corner which is a threat to any pedestrian?
There have been many more incidents of rampant disregard for road rules leading to the death of innocent people.
Zimbabwe Statistics Agency(Zimstat) released a statement early this year showing that number of motorists arrested due to driving without due care increased from 2,201 in 2010 to 37,419 in 2015.
In 2015 unlicensed drivers rose to 13,800 from the 819 in 2010. Are the children of Harare really safe?
Our plight as children is for Harare to be free of pollution, to have functional libraries and parks, safe transport and child participation and protection.
This is an invitation across the board to make Harare Child Friendly and a promise to bring authorities to task on the things missing in our Harare and brighten the Sunshine City.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the Harare City Junior Aldermen for their unwavering support and leadership.
This article was written by Respectable Junior Alderman Kuda Marime, Alice Mhakainganwa, Tanya Mukiwa, Takudzwa Ngadziore, Leroy Mutyambizi, Rudo Runyowa and Nathanael Ejara.
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