ZINASU COMMEMORATES THE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) joins the rest of the African continent in commemorating the day of the African Child on June 16.The commemorations are in honor and remembrance of the courageous children who on June 16, 1979 in Soweto South Africa, marched for more than half a mile in protest over inferior quality of their education and demanded to be taught in their own language. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot down in the process by the apartheid racist regime during that time.
We salute in respect and honor to those children who perished. Shame to those who committed these callous acts on the defenseless children. It is disheartening to note that majority of children in the Zimbabwe are living in difficult conditions. Many have dropped from school due to high fees; many are now orphans as their parents have died of the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. We are also concerned about the high number of children who are now homeless and roaming the streets of Harare due to poverty. Many of these problems and hardships are as a result of bad governance. As the young people we demand the right to be heard, the right to education, shelter and freedom.

We also take this opportunity to condemn the spates of violence being perpetrated on the innocent civilians by the military junta of Robert Mugabe. Children are not being spared by the ongoing orgy of violence, we have seen children being burnt, killed by the heartless thugs of Robert Mugabe. The Mugabe’s junta has destroyed the livelihoods of many Zimbabweans.  As Students, union we urge all the young people especially those who are registered voters to go out in their numbers on 27 June to vote for a President who respects and upholds the aspirations and rights of the young people.