Antony Chawagarira
MT HAMPDEN – President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is today expected to officially open the 34th Junior Parliament at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, where young legislators from across Zimbabwe will deliberate on issues affecting children and youth.
The Junior Members of Parliament, representing all constituencies in both the Junior National Assembly and Junior Senate, are meeting in a joint sitting to debate matters of national importance to young people and present their recommendations to Government.
The official opening will be marked by a guard of honour mounted by junior service chiefs, which will be inspected by the Junior President before President Mnangagwa delivers his keynote address.
The Junior Parliament mirrors Zimbabwe’s parliamentary system and provides children with a platform to participate in democratic governance by debating policies, raising issues affecting their peers and proposing solutions aimed at improving the lives of children and young people.
The annual programme is expected to generate recommendations that will be submitted to Government for consideration as part of ongoing efforts to promote child participation in national decision-making and governance.
