CHILDREN’S PARTICIPATION IN SWAYOCO CELEBRATION PROBED

MBABANE – The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office has instituted an investigation following the participation of children in a celebration by proscribed entity, the Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), and wants the law to take its course.

SWAYOCO is a youth league of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). In a press conference held at his offices, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku, called for the political formation to make a public apology. Masuku stated that his office, particularly, was appalled at the use of children as messengers and participants by certain political formations to perpetuate their personal agenda as reported by the Times of Eswatini SUNDAY, dated August 6, 2023, on page eight. He mentioned that more troubling was the absurd justification of the leadership of the particular political formation; the abuse of children and extreme violation of their rights at this rally.

Of note is that the President of SWAYOCO, Sakhile ‘Awuviva’ Nxumalo, when questioned by our sister publication on the children’s participation, said they groomed young people to end up being their members. Nxumalo said they specifically groomed children starting from the age of 14 years as they believed that they would shape and guide them in their thinking. According to the DPM, the act of the political formation was also, among other reasons, why the delivery of petitions in May/June 2021 was banned.

Violence

During these petition deliveries, Masuku stated that children were used to carry placards, starting violence in schools and in the process neglecting their education, which was not only their fundamental right but also an important foundation for their bright future. “The use of children in such activities is seen as contrary to the fundamental principles and right of the “Best Interest of the Child” which is stipulated by the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child and the CPWA 2012.”

Grave

Masuku said his office was disheartened to see grave violations of children’s rights, as stipulated by the country’s Constitution (2005) and the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act (CPWA) (2012) and other international treaties, which the country had ratified. He said just last month, the country was visited by a delegation from the African Union (AU) to assess the implementation of the Children’s Charter. “It is disturbing that few days after the AU’s Committee on children’s rights visit, we are witnessing such violations of children’s rights, when the committee was actually impressed by the country’s progress,” he said. Masuku said children should be allowed to enjoy their childhood without being drawn into matters which were above their scope of understanding, analysis and age.

The DPM further mentioned that children must be protected by all and not put in harm’s way, where they could be hurt through stampedes and foul language by irresponsible participants.
He added that the school curriculum was designed in such a way that children would grow cognitively and later have the ability to synthesis, abstract concepts and activities which characterised political and other life agendas. Meanwhile, he said the country’s Constitution (2005) and the CPWA (2012) obligated parents and duty bearers, such as schools, religious and community leaders, to ensure that children were protected from any practice which may affect their growth and development.

Stipulated

Furthermore, he said the CPWA stipulated that parents had a responsibility to protect the child from violence, abuse, exploitation, exposure to physical and moral hazards. Masuku added that parents had a responsibility to provide good guidance and care to ensure the development of the child. He said it was sad to note that they were not seeing this critical responsibility.
In most instances, particularly on abstract issues, Masuku said children only repeated that which they had been told and this may cause serious damage if misleading.

Opinion

He said while the CPWA 2012 (12) gave children the right to opinion, however, it was also important to consider the age of the child and the manner in which the minor was engaged in order to protect the child’s psychological development. He said: “According to the Constitution 2005 (29) and the CPWA 2012 (20:a,b, c and d), they have responsibilities which include respecting elders, preserving national unity, and upholding positive values of the community.” Masuku reminded all emaSwati that every child had the right to grow up in a safe environment, with access to education and all opportunities to secure the future. He said all those responsible for the violation and abuse against children must understand that they were destroying the future of these children and the country.

Bite

“The culture of violence, disobedience and arrogance that these interest groups are instilling to these pre-adolescents learners will come back to bite our society,” he added. He appealed to all emaSwati, including civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and parents, to speak in one voice and strongly condemn the recruitment and use of children by those with selfish intentions. Masuku said it was the fundamental duty of society to do everything in their power to protect children, who were the future, from any chaos that had nothing to do with nurturing them.

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