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Feedback from outreach on constitution making, Redcliff, Silobela Tsholotsho and Lupane
Youth Agenda Trust
February 24, 2010

Redcliff - A school children's consultative meeting was held at Batanai High, Redcliff on the 11th of February 2010. The meeting commenced at 1200hrs and was attended by close to 400 school children from Batanai High School, Rutendo High School, Drake High School. Key presenters were officials from the ministry of education, Child MP for Kwekwe, local Child councillors and members of the Youth Agenda Trust.

Key outcomes were;

• Challenge the select committee of parliament to involve children in the consultation process
• Advocate for a new constitution that protects children from all forms of abuse and guarantees them the rights to education, health and participation in decision making

The meeting also gave the Youth Agenda Trust the opportunity to share information with school children on what constitutes a good constitution and the process of writing a people driven constitution.

Silobela - A Community Discussion Forum was held at Tiger Reef Mine in Silobela on the 13th of February 2010. The forum was attended by close to a hundred participants from Tiger Reef Mine and the surrounding farming communities. The forum was centred on the following discussion points

• Reforming of key youth institutions such as the National Youth Service and the Zimbabwe Youth Council
• The need to have a constitution in which young people are guaranteed their right to education, health, freedom of expression, assembly and association
• The need for the constitution to be very clear on protecting workers rights particularly those who work at mines and also protecting children from child labour

Tsholotsho - A consultative meeting on child rights was held at Tsholotsho High School in Tsholotsho on the 19th of February 2010. The meeting was attended by over 500 school children from Tsholothso High School, Mavella Government School and other surrounding satellite schools. The meeting was chaired by Evelyn Simbi the head girl of Tsholotsho High School. The speakers were Child President His Excellence Mr. Gugulethu Nkomo, Child senator for Tsholotsho Hon. Charity Ndlovu, Child Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho Hon. Kwanele Ndlovu, L. Mashungu Programmes Officer Advocacy (Youth Agenda Trust) and T Nhubu Programmes Officer Southern Region (Youth Agenda Trust).

Key outcomes of the meeting were:

• Lack of participation platforms and strategies for children in the constitution making process which is worrisome since they are the custodians of the future
• Children should demand the right to social security in the constitution
• The constitution should guarantee the provision of Child Protection Units and Counseling Services at all levels
• The constitution should guarantee free and quality education
• The constitution should protect the interests of minority groups

Lupane - A community discussion forum was held at Kusile Hall in Lupane on the 20th of February 2010. The meeting was attended by over 150 youth from surrounding villages. The meeting was chaired by David Nyathi from Lupane Agenda and the other speakers were Mr. Ntando Alfred Sikwa (Lupane Youth Development Association), T. Nhubu (Programmes Officer Southern Region for Youth Agenda Trust) and L. Mashungu (Programmes Officer Advocacy Youth Agenda Trust).

Key outcomes of the meeting were;

• there is need for a bill of rights which guarantees social and economic rights
• the new constitution should guarantee cultural rights and should recognize minority languages
• the new constitutional should create independent and durable electoral bodies and mechanisms
• Devolution of power and allocation of resources, people must benefit from the resources within their communities
• Presidential term of office must be at most two five year terms

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