Staff Reporter

IT is now 49 years since the Soweto Uprising of June 16, 1976 by South African students against education inequality by the apartheid regime, but its significance lives on through annual commemorations of the Day of the African Child (DAC).

The Manicaland commemorations were held on Monday in Mutare at the Chancellor Primary School Culture Centre and was organized by African Identity Advocates, a Mutare based community based organization, in collaboration with the  the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The Manicaland Provincial Education Director (PED) Richard Gabaza presided over the event together with Lucky Basopo the Manicaland Provincial Director of Education Services in the Office of the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution.

On June 16, 1976 thousands of black students were killed whilst peacefully protesting against educational inequality in what became known as the Soweto uprising in South Africa. The day was instituted by the African Union’s Assembly of Heads of State and Government in 1991 to honor the memory of the students and to raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by children in Africa.

Manicaland Provincial Education Director (PED) Richard Gabaza.

Gabaza said the DAC highlights key issues facing children and serves to advocate for the rights and well-being of children across the continent so that what happened during the Soweto uprising is never repeated again.

““Together, we can build a brighter future for Africa’s children, where they can reach their full potential and become the driving force for positive change on the continent…This day serves as a reminder of the need to address challenges like poverty, lack of access to quality education, healthcare and protection from violence and exploitation. It also aims to empower children to participate in decisions that affect their lives,” said the Manicaland provincial education director.

The PED added that President Emmerson Mnangagwa takes seriously child rights and preservation of African culture which is why the Heritage Based Curriculum (HBC) was introduced.

“The Second Republic as being led by H.E the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa takes seriously Zimbabwean children as the core and custodian of Zimbabwe’s future. The revolutionary introduction of the Heritage Based Curriculum (HBC), which is a Skills and Competence Curriculum is empowering every child with the opportunity to succeed in disciplines of choice leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.

Tendai Lynette Mudehwe, founding director of the African Identity Advocates (left) following proceedings during the commemorations.

Tendai Lynette Mudehwe, founding director of the African Identity Advocates, said their organization is a consortium of teachers, community leaders and artists, specializing on the issues of African heritage and culture in the education system.

“We understand the importance of cherishing our totems as they are an important aspect of our African culture, existence and identity.   Learning institutions play an important role in teaching culture as well as its preservation which is why we are extending our services to schools to complement and practically implement the Heritage Based Curriculum introduced by government which we are very much in support of,” said Mudehwe.

Part of the children from Chancellor Primary School that attended the commemorations

The commemorations were highlighted by spirited performances by students who celebrated African culture through poetry, music and dance. The Mutare District Urban schools inspector, Edson Mapungwana and Mutare District Schools Inspector Tracy Mademutsa also attended the event as well as Chancellor Primary School leadership and students.

Mudehwe thanked PED Gabaza for believing and supporting their organisation’s vision, giving it an opportunity to support the Heritage Based Curriculum. She also thanked the Mutare District Schools Inspector Mademutsa for assisting their organisation to implement its programmes in schools within her district.

“This is also an example of women supporting women initiatives and the results have been exhibited here through the successful hosting of this event for the first time in Manicaland Province,” said Mudehwe.