Monday 20th December 2021 shall forever be remembered as a historic day in the Disability Rights and Child’s Rights Movement of Zimbabwe. This was the day when Her Excellency Hon. Hazel Mandaza was appointed Child President of Zimbabwe for 2021-2022. Hazel is the first child with a disability in Zimbabwe to be appointed as Child President. Thisability Hub recently had the rare honor and privilege of interacting with Her Excellency. This culminated in a very interesting discussion about child and disability rights in Zimbabwe. Below is the conversation we had:
Thisability Hub: Tell us a bit about yourself?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: I am a girl aged 17. I live in Mahusekwa which is located in Mashonaland East Province with my family; including my parents and siblings. I am the second born child in a family of three children; my older brother Calvin and younger sister Hailey. I am a student at Mahusekwa High School currently studying ‘A’ Levels (lower 6). I’m studying Accounting, Business studies and Statistics.
Thisability Hub: How did you become Child President for 2021-2022?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: It was quite a challenging journey but with an exciting destination. When I was in form 2, a certain girl from my school who was an outgoing junior councilor told me that I had to compete for the incoming junior councilor. No one believed in me at that time, but to their surprise I won! That’s when the journey began. Earlier this year I competed for the seat of Junior Minister of State for Mashonaland East and I won. I then decided to campaign for the Junior Presidential post. This time around everyone in Zimbabwe was given the chance to vote for Junior President through Social Media. I would like to thank the nation for showing the love and support they have not only for a girl child, but also for a stigmatized and discriminated girl with a disability.
Thisability Hub: As child president what are your priority areas?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: My priority areas are:
- Improving education facilities.
- Improvement of sanitation in schools.
- Empowerment of young people (out of school youths) through livelihood projects.
- Awareness raising on disability.
Thisability Hub: Children with disabilities are often excluded from the mainstream society, what should be done to ensure that they are also included?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: Awareness should be brought to our society, people must be educated that disability is not a curse and neither it is by choice. The development of the society is upon everyone, those with disabilities and those without disabilities we all have a role to play.
Thisability Hub: What is your message to parents of children with disabilities?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: Parents of children with disabilities, please embrace the gift the Lord gave you. Do not be ashamed of us rather take us as a blessing. Stop hiding your children expose them to the world. Let them be educated since you never know tomorrow they may do wonders.
Thisability Hub: What is your message to non-disabled children?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: Non-disabled children should stop stigmatizing and discriminating us, your brothers and sisters who are “differently -abled”. Show us love, make friends with us! Try all your best to make us feel part of the society.
Thisability Hub: What would you like other children with disabilities to know?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: Know that you are the best just the way you are!
Be proud of yourself and never let your disability limit you, only the sky is the limit! Believe in yourself!
Thisability Hub: What would you like to do after school?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: I would like to be one of the most successful business people in the world. I am also a founder of a non profit making organization called Young Open Minds Zimbabwe, which is there to mould and bring out young people who can think outside the box and with this initiative I would like to be part of the development of our nation and the world at large. Academically I would like to do banking and finance.
Thisability Hub: Final messages for society in general?
H.E Hazel Mandaza: We cannot always build the future for our youth, but it’s time we build our youth for the future. “Tese tine basa rekuvaka ramangwana renyika yedu”, (we all have a part to play in building a brighter future for all). I am really looking forward to working with you all so we can bring desired change to our youths.