Tinotenda Hove – President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday officially opened the 34th Session of the Junior Parliament in Harare.

Young legislators used the forum to challenge government on education, water and sanitation, digital access, and child welfare.

Child President Tinashe Mugodhi called for urgent support to help Zimbabwean children returning from abroad to rejoin schools.

“We need flexible enrolment policies, psychosocial support, and adequate resources to ensure returning Zimbabwean children are not left behind in schools,” Mugodhi said.

Other junior MPs raised concerns over the lack of sanitary pads, clean water, and internet connectivity in schools.

In response, government ministers outlined what they said were ongoing interventions: expanding access to clean water, drilling boreholes nationwide, increasing support for menstrual health programmes, and improving school infrastructure.

In his address, President Mnangagwa linked the session to national heritage and children’s rights.

“It is my privilege and pleasure to join the young representatives of the children of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, as I Officially Open the 34th Session of the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said.
“This event also marks the belated commemoration of the Day of the African Child, under the theme ‘Ensuring universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene for every child in Africa.’ This gathering has become an important annual feature on our national calendar. It continues to serve as a testament of the Second Republic’s determination to keep alive, our rich armed liberation war heritage. This forms the basis upon which we celebrate Independence, freedom, sovereignty and democracy as well as the numerous fundamental rights we now enjoy.”