….
as Govt gets nervous about street demos
as Govt gets nervous about street demos
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – First
lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was in Chiredzi this week assessing progress in the work
being done to upgrade Chambuta Children’s Home into a National Rehabilitation Centre
where orphans and street kids will be trained with life skills.
lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was in Chiredzi this week assessing progress in the work
being done to upgrade Chambuta Children’s Home into a National Rehabilitation Centre
where orphans and street kids will be trained with life skills.
She
urged local companies to invest their own resources towards making a success of
the project; claiming she alone could not afford it.
urged local companies to invest their own resources towards making a success of
the project; claiming she alone could not afford it.
The
phenomenal increase in the number of children living on the streets has come
with both social and political implications, with some of them reportedly being
used to front demonstrations against the government.
phenomenal increase in the number of children living on the streets has come
with both social and political implications, with some of them reportedly being
used to front demonstrations against the government.
Speaking
during a briefing at Chambuta, Mnangagwa said she was on a mission to decongest
street kids from the streets of Harare.
during a briefing at Chambuta, Mnangagwa said she was on a mission to decongest
street kids from the streets of Harare.
“We
need to move in about a 1000 street kids and provide them with projects they
can live on. So we are upgrading Chambuta to a national rehabilitation centre. I
am aware that it will be a mammoth task to move street kids as some will refuse
but we will focus on those that are willing,” said Mnangagwa.
need to move in about a 1000 street kids and provide them with projects they
can live on. So we are upgrading Chambuta to a national rehabilitation centre. I
am aware that it will be a mammoth task to move street kids as some will refuse
but we will focus on those that are willing,” said Mnangagwa.
Chiredzi
East Member of Parliament (MP) Denford Masiya welcomed the move, saying he was
also working hard to make the project a success.
East Member of Parliament (MP) Denford Masiya welcomed the move, saying he was
also working hard to make the project a success.
“We
are really behind your projects and we welcome those children. Let them come
and be kept here since you want to upgrade it to a national rehabilitation
centre,” said Masiya.
are really behind your projects and we welcome those children. Let them come
and be kept here since you want to upgrade it to a national rehabilitation
centre,” said Masiya.
However,
a source privy to the developments said the project was part of broader plans
to prevent civil society and the opposition from using homeless children during
demonstrations.
a source privy to the developments said the project was part of broader plans
to prevent civil society and the opposition from using homeless children during
demonstrations.
“It’s
all about dealing with demonstrations since street kids are thought to be so
reckless and fearless that they would not mind participating in demonstrations
right from the front,” said the source.
all about dealing with demonstrations since street kids are thought to be so
reckless and fearless that they would not mind participating in demonstrations
right from the front,” said the source.
