by Staff Reporter
Opposition activists under the banner of #Zimbabweanlivesmatter yesterday used minors to stage illegal flash demonstrations in Chitungwiza, a practice that is in gross violation of the country’s constitution, regional and international legal instruments that regulate the care and protection of minors.
A group of about 40 activists led by former Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) leader, Makomborero Haruziviishe, staged demonstrations at Unit ‘A’ shops in Chitungwiza, where the fugitive activist urged participants to rise and remove ZANU PF from power.
Among the participants were five minors aged 15 years. Investigations by this publication identified the minors as Tawananyasha Kashinya, Nyasha Mujeya, Zelda Bvute, Kimberly Karonza and Makanaka Charambira.
The children confided that they had been invited under the pretext that it was a girl child event. They further disclosed that they were paid US$2 each for participating before being split into three smaller groups to evade detection.
On the same day, about 20 MDC-Alliance youths staged another demonstration at Luciano shops in Unit ‘K,’ Chitungwiza. A scuffle ensued after the youth leader, Tryvine Musokeri gave his friend US$50 participation allowance instead of the US$20 that was given to other participants.
By using children in political protests, the MDC-Alliance violated the country’s Constitution, the United Nations Convention on the Rights and Welfare of Children (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (ACRWC).
Article 36 of the UNCRC provides for the protection of children from any form of exploitation, which includes being taken advantage of. Article 15 of the UNCRC as well as Article 8 of the ACRWC outline that every child has the right to free association and peaceful assembly in conformity with the law. Section 81 (1) (g) of the Zimbabwe Constitution provides that ‘every child…has a right not to be compelled to take part in any political activity.’
A children’s rights activist, Mary Munowenyu condemned the use of children in political protests.
“It is very sad that innocent children are being used for political causes. We urge all concerned not to use children in this way, it is morally repugnant. We also urge the government to take stern actions against those using children in demonstrations,” said Munowenyu.
Political analyst, Bynos Mtisi noted: “The deployment of security personnel to enforce COVID-19 lockdown measures in the CBD has given room for rogue activists to carry out flash demonstrations in small suburbs. The demonstrators are using children so that when the security forces use minimum force to contain the situation, it is accused of violating children’s rights.”
It is not the first time that the MDC has used children in political protests. In 2016, the late MDC-Alliance activist, Partson Dzamara paraded children on the front-line in protest against the alleged disappearance of his brother and MDC activist Itai Dzamara at Africa Unity Square. The activists openly taunted the police in the hope of provoking an incident.
