Youth rights activist further remanded out of custody

By Platform for Youth Development

Prominent youth rights activist and Platform for Youth Development (PYD) Director, Claris Madhuku has been further remanded out of custody to the 8^th of September 2011 by Chipinge Magistrate Ngweshiwa.

Claris Madhuku (33) who appeared before Chipinge magistrate court has been further remanded out of custody to the 8^th of September 2011 for trial. The trial was moved further after the state failed to bring their witness to the case. Magistrate Ngweshiwa had no kind words for the state prosecutor whom he said had failed to bring the witness on three counts.

Magistrate Ngweshiwa said that the trial will proceed on the said date with or without state witness. Madhuku is represented by Langton Mhungu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

Madhuku is being charged with contravening Section 25 (1) (b) of POSA for allegedly convening a meeting without receiving clearance from the regulatory authority. on the day he was arrested, Madhuku was facilitating a meeting at the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) in Rimbi area in Chipinge South which was organised by (PYD).

In 2008 Madhuku was on several times arrested for standing against human rights abuses in Chipinge. His organisation, PYD has worked tirelessly in improving political consciousness and human rights education in Chipinge.

PYD is also embroiled in a bitter land war with Macdom Investments owners of the multi-million dollar ethanol plant in Chisumbanje. PYD and the communities around the estate allege that the consortium of companies under the banner of Green Fuel is illegally grabbing their land to pave way for the ethanol plant. 

PYD Information and Communications dept

Email: platformtrust@gmail.com

Blog: http://platformtrust.blogspot.com

Mobile: +263773010331,+263714179219  

PYD Day of the African Child 2011 commemoration in pictures

Chipinge youths commemorate Day of the African Child in style

Chipinge district marked the Day of the African Child belatedly on Friday 24 June 2011 under the theme ‘All together for urgent action in support of street children.’

The commemorations, held at Checheche growth point were organized by Platform for Youth Development in collaboration with Youth Empowerment and Transformation and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

Participants were drawn from the local and national civil society organizations including Zimbabwe Youth Council, local schools and communities. Poems, music and dance in solidarity with the children of Soweto carried the day and participants expressed satisfaction that the day was really worth remembering.

Speaker after speaker urged young people to stand up for their rights. Guest of Honor Kennedy Majamanda of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) challenged young people to know and be able to defend their rights. He urged Chipinge youths to shun violence and work towards a peaceful and violence free society. He urged school children to report any form of abuse from teachers, relatives and parents. “We will assist victims to report and any form of abuse against children,” Majamanda said.

Alice Chihava from Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust challenged young children to commit their time and energy to education as it was the only ammunition against poverty in rural areas. “You need to work hard in school to realize your goals” she said. Using herself as an example, Alice urged the young girls to aspire finishing their high school and attending university education.

The commemorations were also attended by headmen and kraal heads from the surrounding communities who said they came to support their children’s cause. Headman Forichi Chisumbanje could not hide his excitement at the way children were committing their time to commemorate the day of the African Child. “We are very grateful that at least you recognize the efforts of the children of Soweto, they were killed and injured but their spirit is reining the rest of Africa,” Headman Chisumbanje said.

Three schools clashed in the Day of the African Child soccer trophy with Katanga secondary school emerging winners after brushing aside a weaker Checheche secondary school. In netball competitions Checheche secondary school lifted the Day of the African Child trophy whacking Takwirira high and Katanga who won the same trophy in 2010.Other teams that participated in the soccer were Madhuku and Rimbi.

Winners of the sports competition walked away with cash and sports uniforms whilst the losing finalists received cash consolation for participating in the competition.

The day of the African Child which is commemorated every year since 1991 is an African Union sanctioned calendar day in all African countries, tracing its origin in the June 16 1976 Soweto.
Hundreds of black school children were massacred in Soweto, South Africa, as they took to the streets to protest the inferiority quality of their education and to demand their right to be taught in their native language.

This event was being commemorated for the third time having started in 2009.Chipinge community has been notorious for its neglect of children by tolerating early marriages, child sacrifices and harmful cultural practices. Awareness of youths and children rights makes such programs very important and an eye opener to the challenges experienced.

When asked to summarize the event,PYD Director Mr. Claris Madhuku had this to say, “We believe in community development that places the young people at the heart of responsibility, what this commemoration does ,is to raise awareness to the young people inclusive of their elders to defend and support their community. This was once again a very successful event.”

Information and Communications Department
For more details contact -Claris on 0773 010 331