The leaders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe have reiterated their commitment to providing a safer environment for children in their countries.
President Hage Geingob, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba and Vice President Kembo Mohadi attended the UNICEF World Children’s Day commemoration in Walvis Bay on Sunday, joining over 500 children and dignitaries from the four countries.
The three-day event was held under the theme ‘For Every Child, Every Right’ and was a platform for children and their countries’ leaders to discuss solutions and accelerate action to protect and fulfil the rights of every child.
The four leaders committed to improving the quality of education for all children and ensuring that all schools are safe-to-learn settings and that education is accessible for all.
‘We are committed to continue empowering our children, including the most vulnerable and those living with disabilities, with knowledge and opportunities an
d fostering a generation of leaders and innovators who will build a brighter and more prosperous Namibia,’ Geingob expressed.
President Masisi expressed the need for leaders to cement a collaboration with children and start to develop measures of success so that a progress reflection can be done after four years and see how much has been achieved.
This is not an event but a process that needs to develop clear responsibilities for both children and the leaders,’ he highlighted.
Zambia’s Mwengo emphasised that protecting children and empowering them with quality education is not just about building a brighter future but also equipping them to be future leaders.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s Mohadi noted that the country has adopted several legal instruments to promote the rights of children and to protect them from exploitation and harm.
‘Zimbabwe is particularly dedicated to the rights of children to express and participate and to this aim, we have constituted a Child Parliament which advises our Government on ch
ild-related issues,’ he shared.
The event consisted of an interactive panel discussion between the four heads of state with child leaders from the four countries and was concluded by a handing over of calls of action to the heads of state by children who attended the event.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency