2012 Junior Parliament elections begin

March 17, 2012

The 2012 Junior Parliament election process will begin this coming week (March 19) and run till the second week of May. Junior parliamentarians will be elected in all provinces across the country.
The Zimbabwe Junior Parliament was established in 1991 as a way of commemorating the Day of the African Child on June 16 each year.

In a statement released by the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC), custodians of the Junior Parliament, the ZYC Programmes Coordinator Taurai Bhatasara said this year’s theme would be, “The Rights of Children with Disabilities; the Duty to Protect, Respect, Promote and Fulfill”.

This programme allows children to participate in the national agenda, while addressing concerns affecting children in Zimbabwe. Such an opportunity will help harness and develop leadership qualities in many young people being brought up today.

Form threes and Lower sixes in schools around the country are encouraged to speak to heads of schools to begin the initial stage to select a representative from a school.

The selection process is based on speech competency and knowledge of child and youth development issues in the country.

According to election guidelines given, public speaking competitions will be held in different constituencies across the country giving “equitable representation of provinces, gender and disability”.

Representatives from the ZYC and Education ministry would work with school heads to determine the programme for elections in each constituency.

On the day of elections, candidates will be required to give a speech on above theme. Students from participating schools will then be given an opportunity to cast their votes secretly and junior senators and chiefs will be selected in the same way.

For those aspiring for presidency, the junior president, the two junior vice-presidents, the junior prime minister and the two junior deputy prime ministers, will be elected by the incoming junior parliamentarians in the first week of office.

Last year’s Junior Presidium, Cabinet and junior governors were made up of 60 members. 19 young women also formed part of this group.

The 2011-2012 Junior Presidium had Child President Anesu Rangwani from Manicaland, First Vice-President Neo Gugwe from Mashonaland East, Second Vice-President, Curtly T Gwindi from Mashonaland Central, Prime Minister Omega Doba from Midlands, First Deputy Prime Minister Eurita Chimutsipa from Masvingo and Second Deputy Prime Minister Michael Chavinda from Bulawayo.