BY OBEY MANAYITI

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is bankrolling the memorial service of the late former Zimbabwe Prime Minister and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, which is being held at his Buhera home today, NewsDay Weekender has gathered.

Tsvangirai’s family yesterday paid tribute to Mnangagwa, saying his government had stood with the family even from the days when he was ill.

The former trade unionist, who died last year after battling with cancer of the colon for two years and was accorded a State-assisted funeral, rose to international prominence, first as
the secretary-general of a militant Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and later as leader of the MDC, which has provided the sternest challenge to Zanu PF hegemony in local politics
since independence.

He was arrested and tortured countless times under the regime of former President Robert Mugabe, who was overthrown in a November 2017 coup, paving way for Mnangagwa.

In an interview yesterday, Tsvangirai’s brother and family spokesperson, Manase, said they were grateful for the gesture by the government.

“As a family, we want to thank the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the support. Had it not been for them, we don’t know how we were going to manage,” he said.

“They helped us since the time when Tsvangirai was ill by paying hospital bills. When he died, they assisted us with repatriating the body and getting air tickets for the family members
who were outside the country, and food at the funeral.

“Now, government is saying it is committed to feed the 5 000 people that are expected to attend the memorial. They are providing food, water, mobile toilets and other things. Otherwise,
as a family, it was going to be very difficult to manage.”

Yesterday, Manase said government had also provided equipment to repair roads leading to the homestead.

He also paid tribute to some individual MDC party members who contributed towards Tsvangirai’s tombstone.

He said they approached the MDC and were told that there were limited resources, but there were individual party members who decided to pool their resources together for the
tombstone.

Manase said it was all systems go for the memorial and all logistical arrangements were in place.

“This is a very big day. We expect people to be disciplined and peaceful. If they say Tsvangirai was an icon, then we don’t expect them to be indisciplined,” he said.

Manase also thanked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for his assistance and desire to see a successful memorial for the late Prime Minister.

Chaos reigned during the burial of Tsvangirai last year after rival MDC factions turned on each other because of fights over who would succeed the late founding leader of the party.

“We would like to thank Chamisa for actually cautioning renegades that he would not tolerate rogue behaviour by those who may want to cause problems. He assured us that security would
be guaranteed. He has pre-warned some party members over behaviour unbefitting of the icon Tsvangirai,” Manase said.

A few weeks before the death of Tsvangirai, Mnangagwa made a surprise visit to the former Premier’s Highlands home, where he also pledged assistance.

By Farai Matiashe

MEDIA Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Zimbabwe Chapter has made repeated calls to government to comply with regional and continental instruments by fast-tracking media reform processes.

The call by Misa comes at a time the country joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day yesterday.

The celebrations ran under the theme Regional and Continental Instruments Key to Democratic Media Reforms.

Addressing a breakfast meeting in Harare yesterday, Misa Zimbabwe vice-chairperson Rutendo Mawere said complying with the regional and continental instruments was essential in guaranteeing the fundamental human rights, including access to information and free expression.

“Compliance with these instruments, as derived and underpinned by the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), and in sync with the country’s Constitution, is critical to
the enactment and domestication of a democratic media, free expression and access to information laws,” she said.

“Zimbabwe is a State party to the ACHPR and should, therefore, adhere and be guided by Article 1 of the Charter. Article 1 mandates member states to recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined therein by implementing legislative measures to give effect to them.”

Some of the regional and continental instruments to which President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government should comply include the Windhoek Declaration, Declaration on the principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Africa Charter on Broadcasting, African Platform on Access to Information, and African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Model Law on Access to Information in Africa.

Mawere said these instruments should be read and applied in line with Zimbabwe’s Bill of Rights and fundamentally, with sections 57, 61 and 62 of the Constitution and other relevant sections that have a bearing on the exercise and enjoyment of free speech, right to privacy and access to information.

Section 62 of the Constitution guarantees access to information, but some Acts, such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, have some provisions which contradict with the Constitution, and they are yet to be aligned.

Mawere said compliance and adherence with regional and international instruments and the country’s own Constitution was, therefore, imperative.

Acting director in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Paul Manhire, said government was aware of the debate between advocates for self-regulation and State regulation in the industry.

“It is our respectful opinion that we shall continue to work with critical stakeholders in the media industry for the betterment of this industry, and the enactment of media freedom in line with the Constitution,” he said.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

Morgen Komichi claims tha Zanu PF splashed $100 million to rig the July 31 elections. Picture: Cynthia R Matonhodze

ELECTION watchdog, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn), has called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to allow the public and other stakeholders to participate in the delimitation exercise ahead of the 2023 elections, which it says would promote transparency.

The amendments must also allow for the handling of boundary disputes, Zesn noted in its report titled Citizen Perceptions on Delimitation of Electoral Constituencies and Wards in Zimbabwe, following a research on the issue between January to March 2019.

The report notes gaps in the provisions on the handling boundary disputes and involvement of the public and other stakeholders in the delimitation exercise.

Zesn argued that public participation was necessary to enhance transparency, public trust, confidence and credibility of the process after the last delimitation exercise was described
by the opposition and other stakeholders as flawed in favour of the ruling Zanu PF party.

“The Zec (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) should ensure that the public participates in the delimitation of electoral boundaries. This can be done by putting in place mechanisms, for
example, public hearings that promote public participation provide for mechanisms to allow for the submission of a memorandum, both print and electronic, use of social and mainstream
media,” the Zesn said in its report.

“This will go a long way in building public confidence and trust. The Electoral Act should be amended to incorporate provisions that promote the public participation of citizens. The
legal review will entail enacting provisions that facilitate the participation of citizens and key electoral stakeholders in the process.”

The last delimitation exercise was held in 2008. Opposition parties queried the outcome, arguing it exposed glaring gerrymandering in favour of the ruling Zanu PF.

According to section 161 of the country’s Constitution adopted in 2013, electoral boundaries must be delimitated once every 10 years after a population census.

“A comprehensive roadmap on delimitation should be publicised well on time. This will allow other stakeholders, for example, civil society organisations to have oversight on the
delimitation. The roadmap will enhance the transparency of the process.

“Experiences from the past have shown that aggrieved political parties perceive that their concerns on boundary demarcations were not addressed due to lack of effective dispute
resolution mechanisms, either in the law or by the electoral commission,” Zesn noted.

Zec has since indicated plans to approach Parliament, seeking amendment of the laws so that the electoral body does not to wait for the 2022 population census to undertake a delimitation exercise.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

JEST mistress Tyra “Madam Boss” Chikocho has made her name through cracking people’s ribs with her skits, but very few people know she is a woman of many talents, which stretch to music.

Having first ventured into music several years ago, she is back to refresh her fans memories about her music with the release of her second album, a nine-track effort, Ndinovimba Nemi, in August this year.

The comedienne told NewsDay Weekender Life & Style yesterday that she was putting final touches on the album.

“I am making final touch-ups to my new album, Ndinovimba Nemi, which will be out soon, and I am confident that the album will touch many souls,” she said.

Madam Boss said although she had initially scheduled the album release for June, she has had to move it to August to make way for an international tour to the United Kingdom, also scheduled around that time.

“We could have released the album in June, but there are slight changes because we have a United Kingdom tour in June,” she said.

The comedienne-cum-musician said she was not a novice in the music industry as she dropped her debut album, Sunungura Mweya, on the market in 2012 under the auspices of trending producer Mcdonald “McDee” Chidavaenzi’s Eternity Productions.

“I am not new to the industry as some might think, but recorded my first album in 2012,” she said.

Madam Boss, however, said making inroads into mainstream music back then was tough as the industry was unkind to new kids on the block, which is why her debut album never made significant impact.

“I tried so hard to market the album and music, but to no avail as there was little support and appreciation for new artistes during that time,” she said.

Fortune has, however, smiled on her, with the stars lined up in her favour after she ventured into comedy, which has made people take notice of her and appreciate her talent in music.
“People are beginning to appreciate my music talent now and are encouraging me to continue singing.

“My first album was not marketed well and people didn’t know me then, but now it’s easier because they now know Tyra Chikocho, the musician and actress. So I think it was just a matter of exposure, something which I didn’t have in 2012,” she said.

The comedian-cum musician hailed radio stations for giving equal opportunity to all musicians so that they market their talents.

“In the previous years, radio stations did not really promote upcoming artistes (but would focus) only on those already popular,” she said.

“But this year, things have changed, with the radio stations giving everyone an equal opportunity to market their talents.”

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

THE trial of former Harare magistrate Memory Chigwaza and her two alleged accomplices who are accused of defrauding home seekers of $155 000 after selling them non-existent residential stands failed to kick off on Tuesday as the presiding magistrate is awaiting transfer to Rusape.

Chigwaza (48), Everson Luni (38) and Davison Zvomarima (65) appeared before magistrate Lucy Mungwari, who remanded the matter to June 10 for a possible trial under another magistrate.

The matter had been postponed for the second time after another magistrate recused herself, saying she once worked with Chagwaza at the same court.

Chagwaza is represented by Charles Chikore, while the others are represented by Tungamirai Muganhiri.

Allegations are that the trio and one Michael Kawanzururwa, who is still at large, put an advertisement in a local newspaper offering residential stands under Maizview Projects at
Strathaven, said to be selling at $25 a square metre.

Zvomarima allegedly obtained a fake identity card document in the name of Gabriel Kabanda and purported to be a director of Topmark Stationers (Pvt) Ltd, using a fake CR14 document.

Luni and Kawanzururwa allegedly hired agents and showed them stands for sale in Strathaven and were armed with fake title deeds.

It is the State’s case that on September 27 this year, Sonboy Mapanzure responded to the advertisement and proceeded to Maizview offices in Eastlea, and transferred $25 000 into the
company’s CBZ Bank account.

Thereafter, he was referred to Chigwaza’s offices at Chikore and Chigwaza Law Chambers, where an agreement of sale was prepared by the accused, who never bothered to take any due
diligence as to the authenticity of the title deeds.

It is alleged Zvomarima presented himself as Kabanda.

The State alleges that another complainant, Benjamin Manungo, responded to the same advertisement in the newspaper and paid $40 000. The complainant, on October 3, paid another $5 000
and an agreement of sale was again prepared by Chigwaza.

It is further alleged that on October 4 last year, Peter Manyoni responded to the advert and paid $55 000 into Maizview Projects’ bank account. Chigwaza again allegedly prepared an
agreement of sale.

On October 5, Jacob Kasumba paid $25 000 and nothing was recovered.

CAPE TOWN — Hosts South Africa will tackle Botswana in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Cosafa Cup after the draw was made for the prestigious regional tournament to be staged in Durban from May 25 to June 8.

It will be a repeat of the 2016 cup final and the 2018 plate decider as the familiar foes clash again for a place in the semi-finals, with South Africa coming out on top in both those matches.

East African guest nation Uganda will have to get past Lesotho to advance to the last 4, but will be wary of a Likuena side that has finished in third place in the last two Cosafa Cup instalments.

Defending champions, Zimbabwe will meet the winner of the first round Group A, which will be one of Angola, eSwatini, Comoros and Mauritius.

Angola, like Zimbabwe, will be heading to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt shortly after the tournament and that would be a massive quarter-final line-up were it to materialise.

Comoros, meanwhile, are appearing in their first Cosafa Cup since 2009, a welcome return for the islanders after a decade on the sidelines.

Zambia, always a powerhouse in the regional showpiece competition, will clash with the winner of Group B, which includes Mozambique, 2015 winners Namibia, Malawi and Seychelles.

Namibia are another side that are plotting their trip to the Cup of Nations finals, but Mozambique and Malawi in particular will present a mighty challenge.

The four winning quarter-finals advance to the cup semi-finals, while the losing teams will move in to the plate competition.

2019 Cosafa Cup draw

Group A

Angola

eSwatini

Comoros

Mauritius

Group B

Mozambique

Namibia

Malawi

Seychelles

Quarter-finals

Zambia vs Winner Group B

Lesotho vs Uganda

Zimbabwe vs Winner Group A

South Africa vs Botswana.

Cosafa

By Staff Reporter

THE World Bank yesterday announced that it had mobilised over half a billion dollars in new resources to help people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe affected by Cyclone Idai.

In a statement, the World Bank said it was activating the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window (CRW) to provide up to $545 million in total for the three affected countries.

This is in addition to nearly $150 million in resources that have recently been made available from existing projects. The total World Bank support to the three countries has reached around $700 million.

The World Bank is also working with Mozambique and Comoros to assess and respond to the damage caused by Cyclone Kenneth.

“Cyclone Idai caused catastrophic damage earlier this year that affected millions of people, and this tragedy has been compounded by Cyclone Kenneth,” said World Bank Group president David Malpass, following a tour of Beira’s affected areas.

“The World Bank Group is working closely with our partners to help the population recover from these terrible storms, build back stronger than before, and improve the countries’
resilience to natural disasters.”

Mozambique, which was the hardest hit, will receive $350 million in CRW financing to re-establish water supply, rebuild damaged public infrastructure and crops, and support disease prevention, food security, social protection, and early warning systems in the impacted communities.

For neighbouring Malawi, the CRW would provide $120 million in financing to restore agricultural livelihoods, reconstruct priority infrastructure, and support disease surveillance.

In addition, the World Bank intends to provide an exceptional allocation of up to $75 million to selected United Nations agencies to support the people of Zimbabwe also affected by
Cyclone Idai.

“Funds will go towards a harmonised multi-sector livelihood support and recovery operations that are focused on social welfare and community interventions,” the bank said.

Opinion Oskar Wermter SJ

MOST of us who are close to 80 years survived the Second World War, including the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and countless other wars in Korea, Vietnam, on the Indian subcontinent, in Central America, in the Middle East and last, but not least, in our beloved Africa.

Even the younger generation has heard about the wars of liberation in southern Africa, the genocide in Rwanda and the civil wars in Sudan and Congo. The list is endless. Which
Zimbabwean family has not lost a member or members to our “Chimurenga” and “Gukurahundi”?

My earliest childhood memories go back to the end of World War 2. There were more wars to come. I cannot forget the helicopter gunships rising into the sky over Zimbabwe, the “protected villages” and the ex-combatants in their “assembly points” who we met in the bush, desperate to get home for a new life.

Proudly, they raised their guns, though no longer pointing at enemies. Laughing, they wanted me to “shoot” them, if only with my camera. I still have those snapshots.

I remember the joking and laughter of “veterans” looking forward to another round of fighting. How strange that ex-soldiers look back with apparent nostalgia to the days when blood was
spilled and comrades buried.

I have seen enough of it and I am not keen to see more, not even the TV wars shot in Hollywood merely for entertainment in our living rooms.

Some famous professors of education tell us that young people who get their daily dose of violence and bloodshed for mere entertainment are not infected by the gunplay of cowboys and
the heaps of corpses on their screens.

Pedagogues of distinction do not see that their pupils would be addicted to guns and war games, and end up as drive-by killers and acquire other habits of destroying life, “merely for
fun”.

Those “experts” think that children and young adults will be able to tell the difference between screenplay and actual corpses, blood and gore.

The world in the latter part of the 20th Century has been able to avoid a Third World War, substituted by a “Cold War”, the arms race between the superpowers, booming arms trade and the mutual deterrence between nuclear powers.

Now there is only one super-super-power, but the “industrial military complex” is as productive as ever before.
The media super-power, the United States, keeps the fire burning. History and tradition have created a gun-culture, which is not being abolished by men brought up playing with guns and
automatic rifles, who feel happy by proving to be the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of cowboys.

The “right of an American citizen to bear arms” cannot be questioned. No candidate in the race for election as the next US President can start an argument with the powerful “rifle
association” where grown men, plus their wives, play with guns like little boys (and girls?) playing with toy guns.

This enthusiasm for lethal weapons is an epidemic no one can stop. There is no drug to kill this addiction off. Anyone can go and buy his “toy-gun” in a gun shop.

And once you have deadly weapons in your cupboard, the temptation to go and kill foreigners, aliens and migrants in a fit of xenophobia and assault unpopular neighbours, is
insurmountable.

While walls are being erected to protect your paranoid gun-toting population from uncontrollable foreign refugees, the lethal infection that turns you into a terrorist and compulsive
killer crosses borders easily.

The “American way of life” has become the American (or Russian or Chinese) way of killing and dying.

Power is the power to kill, plain and simple. A war may end, but the guns, machetes, battle axes, bombs, landmines, and rockets remain, and there is a market for them.

A gun once put up for sale on some African market will not be buried in the bush and vanish.

If there is some civil war brewing, those who know will want to be part of it. The heroes of the last war are dead, but their tools needed for the next mass slaughter of human beings
can be dug up and be made ready for action.

On the first pages of the Bible, we come across the first murder. Our God and Creator, the Giver of Life, contradicts Cain’s word: “I must avoid your presence and become a restless
wanderer on the earth, anyone might kill me at sight”.

Revenge is not tolerated by the Lord. He “put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight”. Countless times, this word has been ignored, blood has been spilled since those days
until today.

The law, as given by nature, protects the killer and does not tolerate “a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye” scenario.

We need a complete turn-around. We must do away with war as a political option. We must do away with revenge. When insulted, we must not return the insult. When suffering, we must not
threaten (cf. 1 Peter 2:23).

We must work for a peace never experienced before, and face up to the truth on the way towards reconciliation. This requires a moral somersault and a spiritual rebirth.

Once this spirit enters our hearts and allows us to be “born again” in our conscience, we may be able to listen to the voice of our conscience and opt for life, and no longer for warmongering and destruction.

The Church and many human rights defenders protect such “conscientious objectors”, as long as they are prepared to “serve the human community in some other way” (Catechism, 2311).

The old heroes of past wars are dead and buried. Long live the heroes and heroines of peace!

devotion column Erasmus Makarimayi

SOMETIMES, the devil attacks and afflicts you to the extend that you think you are finished and there is no hope for you. When the Gospel of Christ is preached and you are promised restoration, it is so difficult to fathom how God would go about it, seeing you are next to nothing. From human understanding, many times God seems to be divorced from reality.

It appears He shows up too late for comfort. If you relate to Him from your level, you will never benefit from His supernatural character. He is a loving, considerate and all-knowing God.

He will never be late beyond rescue because He’s immanent. He seems so much interested in situations and circumstances you call dead. When God eventually visited barren Sarai in her post-menopause, she had given up hope, but God showed up in a mighty way so He could get glory. As a believer, you’re marked for glory.

It is helpful to know that God created everything we see from nothing. Therefore, resuscitation is not a big deal with Him.

Those who are in counselling face many people who are on the verge of committing suicide because of the apparent dead-end they are facing. Before you hang yourself, read on. The story of Lazarus should be an indication that God cannot be stopped by death in order to make a turnaround in your life. A considerable number feel they are finished and all they just want is to die and rest. If you are going through a rough patch in your life, I am here to encourage you to remain committed to life.

You’re not dead meat. Difficulties, divorce, barrenness, dismissal from work, failing examinations, sickness or poverty are not your end. Against the backdrop of all that has befallen you, consider Jesus’ promise in John 10:10. It reads: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

God is so much interested in using the remnant to grow a nation. He started with Adam and grew the human race. When sin entered the world, He preserved the household of Noah and with only eight people, He populated the world. After punishing Israel and Judah through Assyrian and Babylonian captivity, respectively, He used a tiny remnant to rebuild the nation of Israel.

For the Christian community, He only needed Jesus to fill the earth with the billions of Christians that are here today. After the drought, flood or tsunami that has ravaged your life, look at what is left and present it before God for restoration. Is your marriage hanging by the thread? There is still hope for you? Maybe your company is almost folding, don’t throw in the towel yet.

The story of Peter who had caught nothing all night is a useful example. He had not thrown away the boat and nets when Jesus came and told him to throw the nets to the deep end and he caught a haul. (Luke 5:1-11). I am saying don’t sell your plant, machinery and equipment yet. Commit them into Jesus’ hands. God needs just a glimmer of hope and He will work with you for your restitution and turnaround.

Isaiah 42:3 reads: “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” What you think has crumbled and is now hopeless may not be so. Change your attitude and side with God as He rebuilds you. Your ruins can become an empire. Don’t agree with Satan’s opinion of your life; he will destroy you. God can lift you out of the pit by the mustard seed-size faith of the Christ you have in you.

Be revived. Regain your strength and carry on with life. Just that minute faith is enough. Don’t give up or surrender. The Bible declares in Isaiah 40:29: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” It is good that you were about to faint and give up because God is about to show Himself strong in your life. Fainting is an indicator of a great move of God in your life. God is a restorer and a recoverer. Amos 3:12: “Thus saith The Lord; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.”

Guard jealously what is left. You probably were the richest and now shame and reproach are written all over you. Hide inside God, He will rescue you. Be humble and submit to Him. What appears to be your end is your beginning. You are not finished. It is the work for your return to greatness that is finished, which is the Grace of God. It will work out. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.

BY PHYLLIS MBANJE

ACCORDING to the United Nations, Africa has the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the world.

Annually, thousands of girls become pregnant and they face many social and financial barriers that hinder them from continuing with formal education.

Many drop out of school because the policies do not allow them to continue with their education. This was the scenario in Zimbabwe which the Education Bill seeks to address.

However, public hearings on the Education Amendment Bill, especially in Bulawayo, revoked mixed feelings. The Bill in part seeks to compel schools to accept pregnant pupils so that they proceed with their education.

This has not gone down well with some parents, and considering that Zimbabwe is a conservative country, many have become moralistic, much to the disdain of human rights defenders who are agitating for the girl child to be given fair opportunities.

“Parents are perceiving this as a promotion of bad behaviour, that is why they are raising those concerns. But the critical point that they could be missing is that what if it’s their child who falls pregnant. Would they want them to be chucked out of school for a mistake?” said child rights expert Caleb Mutandwa.

Mutandwa said if they perpetuated the practice of chasing away pregnant girls, it would create a generation of disadvantaged children.

“Because when you take away that girl from school, you would have robbed her of the only opportunity she had to create a better life, not only for hersel, but also for the unborn child,” he said.

However, some parents still maintain that keeping a pregnant girl in school would pose many challenges to other learners as well as for herself.

“What picture are we portraying when a heavily pregnant pupil is allowed to be in school with other children? It is like we are now normalising the practice. Chasing away pregnant females from school was a deterrent to bad behaviour,” said a vendor in Graniteside.

Others are more concerned with the supportive framework in schools, than the fact that they should be allowed to continue their education.

“There is nothing wrong with the fact that the girl should be allowed to carry on with her studies, but will the schools create a conducive environment for her as well as others?,” queried Mark Chirau from Dzivarasekwa.

Commenting on the issue, Mutandwa said there was, indeed, need for proper facilities for the pregnant pupil as well as her schoolmates.

“It is not just about getting the child back in school, but also providing appropriate support like counselling. There should be professional counsellors to help the children interact well with their pregnant colleague,” he said.

Mutandwa also said it was prudent that there be adequate facilities to cater for the pregnant girl’s health. Discussions on sexual reproductive health (SRH) matters are also of great importance.

“The issue of SRH in schools is important. That is why there were all those discussions on whether children should have access to contraceptives or not. But these always end up with people getting moralistic and missing the point,” he said.

Mutandwa said since the pregnant pupil was still a child, it was the duty of all stakeholders to ensure her protection.

“Some circumstances of the pregnancy may even involve some form of abuse or even rape, so we need to be supportive. We have been championing for the pregnant girl child to stay in school and so we need to support this,” he said.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education is currently holding public hearings on the Education Amendment Bill, which was published early this year.

The main purpose of the Bill is to align the Education Act with the Constitution. In terms of section 4 of the Act, children must be admitted into schools without discrimination on the grounds of their race, tribe, origin, political opinions, colour, creed or gender. Clause 3 of the Bill will add other prohibited grounds: Nationality, class, custom, culture, marital status, pregnancy, social status and legitimacy.

The Constitution also says the State must ensure that girls are afforded the same educational opportunities as boys.

A new section 68D, to be inserted in the Act through clause 15, will prohibit schools, public and private, from excluding pupils on the grounds of either non-payment of fees or pregnancy.

Meanwhile, legal think tank Veritas says the Bill is fraught with irregularities.

“While pregnant girls should be allowed to complete their education, no matter what school they attend, it seems extraordinary for the Bill to compel non-government schools, which rely on fees for their very existence, to continue providing education to pupils whose parents refuse to pay for their education,” it noted.

Veritas also said there was nothing in the Bill or in the Act which tackles the problem of social and cultural norms that discourage girls, particularly those in rural areas, from pursuing their education.

“It is not enough merely to prohibit gender discrimination in school admissions. The minister should be empowered to enact regulations that positively encourage girls to enter and stay in schools,” Veritas said.

Veritas also raised concerns over the lack of safety in schools.

“One looks in vain for any provisions on general security or for outlawing the use of school premises for political purposes, or preventing schoolchildren and teachers being dragooned into attending political rallies in order to provide entertainment there,” the report reads in part.