Magonare earns triple African Children of the Year nomination

Laone Choeunyane | Monday September 21, 2026 06:00

 

The young pageant contestant and child advocate has been shortlisted in the Leadership, Motivational/Personal Development, and Safety and Security categories, recognising her work around children’s confidence, safety and empowerment.

According to her mother, Khumoetsile D’Arcy, Zalika has developed a strong passion for community work and advocacy, using her voice to motivate other children and raise issues affecting their wellbeing.

“She has shown leadership in a lot of events by raising issues of children in the community and being recognised internationally for that work,” Khumoetsile said.

At the centre of Zalika’s advocacy is the belief that children need the confidence to speak up. For her, advocacy means speaking for children who cannot speak for themselves while helping others develop the confidence and self-esteem to express themselves and ask for help.

“She is aware of the fact that children become victims because they are afraid to speak up,” her mother said. “So giving the child a skill, which is to be able to express themselves, is what Zalika is driving at the moment,” she added.

Her work with The Chat Club has strengthened her understanding of children’s rights and advocacy. Through the initiative, Zalika has visited the Botswana Police Child Protection Department and Childline Botswana and engaged with teachers about building hope and confidence among children.

Her advocacy has also become intertwined with her pageantry journey. Through the Winning Crown for Cause Award, Zalika presented My Kind Teacher, a project promoting kindness in schools.

She believes children come from different home environments and that schools should provide a safe and caring environment. Her message to teachers is to show kindness and teach children the importance of being kind.

Her Ambassador Award has also recognised her leadership, impact and ability to inspire other children.

For Khumoetsile, pageantry has given her daughter another platform to share her purpose. After winning Top Model in her first pageant, Zalika has continued to combine her love for the stage with advocacy.

That journey continues from September 23 to 26, when she represents Botswana at the South African International Pageants. She will compete in interviews, on-stage introduction, evening gown and fun fashion, as well as optional categories including Scholarship, Fitness, Miss Green and Runway.

The preparation has required her to balance rehearsals with school, with the family making room for her studies alongside her pageant commitments.

For Zalika, the international pageant and African Children of the Year Awards nomination are part of the same broader journey: using opportunities in the public eye to encourage other children to believe in themselves.

She was excited to learn that she had received three nominations and sees the recognition as something bigger than herself.

“She believes the nomination is for all the children,” Khumoetsile said. “She is determined to inspire others to believe in their dreams and also to work hard in school.”

The awards ceremony will take place in Johannesburg on November 21. While the family is hopeful about the outcome, Khumoetsile says the nomination itself is already significant.

“It means her work is being recognised,” she said.

Khumoetsile also said the experience has also reinforced a message she believes should extend beyond Zalika and reach families across the country.

“Our children are gifts not only to us parents but to the community and to the world,” she said. “What we have to do is be more vigilant, protective and loving and let them serve their purpose.”