Bittersweet day for the African child

Oarabile Mosikare | Tuesday June 17, 2014 06:59

 

The then Organisation of African Unity and its successor, the African Union commemorates the event annually, with a focus on African leaders uplifting their children, particularly in the area of education. This year, the day’s theme was ‘A Child-friendly, Quality, Free, and Compulsory Education for all Children in Africa’. MMEGI news crew witnessed various commemorations of the day

At the Old Naledi Kgotla Mmegi correspondent NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE, heard that the ward popularly known as ‘Zola’ has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies of girls below 15 years of age, with authorities ascribing the trend to parental neglect.

Speaking at the event, Nontombi Gungqisa from Tsholofelong Street Involved Children’s project, expressed concern over what she said was the “alarming rate of defilement” in the ward. 

She called on the Old Naledi community to join hands to fight off the vice, which she said was behind the high teenage pregnancies. 

“What do we do to curb this situation? What happened to unity and cooperation in our ward? 

“I want all of us here today to discuss what we can do to curb these cases as many of our girl-children dropout of school while they are still young,” she said.

Old Naledi social worker, Rose Phale confirmed the rise in defilement cases, saying rather than bring the perpetrators forward, the community tended to shield them. 

She said most of the perpetrators are relatives such as stepfathers of the victims.  “I have realised that in our community, defilement cases are generational. You will find that in the same family all female children fall pregnant at an early age but no one reports these issues. We realise this after some years when the young mother is past her teen and when they have conflicts with their boyfriends. 

“In our investigations, we find that such people have been sexually abused at young ages by family members such as uncles, cousins, fathers or close family friends,” she revealed.

Phale said parents and other community members do not help report such cases as they fear tarnishing the family name or losing a breadwinner in cases where the suspect is the sole employed. 

Community members were urged to work together to stamp out such social ills and empower children and teens. 

The community was informed that if a teenager below 15 years of age causes a pregnancy, the culprit is dealt with under the Children’s Act.

At Gaborone West Community Hall, Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI, saw nearly 600 school children, parents and teachers gathered for various activities in commemoration of the day.

With the children themselves acting as Masters of Ceremonies and directing proceedings, invited guests and dignitaries could only watch in awe at the literary and visual talent on show.

A Baobab Primary School marimba ensemble enthralled guests, while their counterparts at Bophirima Primary School captured hearts with an impassioned traditional dance performance.

Speaking at the event, Gaborone West Customary Court president, Kgosi Graham Hambira, reminded the school children that opportunities were not always open to their predecessors.

“In our days, we did not know what education was,” he told the pupils.

“Your parent would say ‘go and herd the cattle which you will live from,’ and we would do it.

“These days we are now realising the importance of education,” he said.

In Lobatse, Staff Writer, OARABILE MOSIKARE, witnessed commemorations where Chief Magistrate, Cele Lebakeng, said education is one of the most problematic areas for many African states. 

Lebakeng said June 16 looks back at the past days and helps everyone appreciate the efforts made by African countries in making available the best education possible.

“Narrowing the scope to our jurisdiction, as Botswana we have made tremendous progress in promoting the aspect of child-friendly education,” she said. “The Ministry of Education has set up an educational curriculum in schools suitable for children at different levels,” she said, adding that the levels of education are from early primary, basic education right up to Form 5, for easier and comprehensive learning. She also said Botswana has tremendously improved in providing quality education for all children.