Online Reporter
Elita Chikwati and Leonard Ncube
More than 300 children are teeing off in a golf tournament that is being hosted by First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa at the Elephant Hills Hotel golf course in Victoria Falls this morning.
The golf tournament marks the start of official activities that are part of the World Children’s Day celebrations.
Government, in partnership with UNICEF, are hosting children from Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe for World Children’s Day.
Public Service, Labour and Social Development Minister July Moyo, Permanent Secretary Simon Masanga and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike are also in attendance.
Minister Moyo said the tournament enables children from different backgrounds to network.
Golf tournament administrator, Mr Ephraim Mashingaidze said sport is good for children.
“Golf promotes discipline, patience and grooming. It also enables the young ones to mix and mingle with people from different backgrounds,” he said.
Children’s Day is a special occasion celebrated worldwide to honour the joys of childhood and to raise awareness about the rights and well-being of children.
Fun for the children
Activities leading to the World Children’s Day celebrations to be held at Baobab Primary School in Victoria Falls on Saturday have started.
Several activities are lined up today, including a children’s golf tournament and a chess tournament.
There will also be a reception for Heads of State and their representatives, as well as a tour of Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe is hosting the regional event with delegates from South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, and Malawi expected to attend.
Namibia Deputy Prime Minister John Mutirwa was one of the first dignitaries to arrive on Thursday.
World Children’s Day is commemorated every year on November 20.
This year’s commemorations are running under the theme “Educate and skill an African child for posterity”.
Commemorating Children’s Day began in 2021 with four countries – Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana.
This year, Zimbabwe has invited Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa.
The celebrations are done in commemoration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), adopted in 1989.
The Government of Zimbabwe ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990.
It is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of children in Zimbabwe.
Section 81 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe includes the Children’s Bill of Rights, which outlines children’s rights.
Children’s Day was celebrated in Botswana in 2021, Zambia in 2022 and Namibia in 2023.
