‘Protect children in honour of Mandela legacy’

DAR ES SALAAM: SOUTH African diplomat and representative of the United Nations (UN) in Tanzania have stressed the importance of continuing to protect children in honouring the life of Nelson Mandela, South Africa first President.

Mr Mandela is globally recognised as among towering influential advocate of children freedom, dignity and prosperity at large as the drivers of both the present and the future of the continent.

Speaking during the Mandela International Day’s commemoration at the Kurasini National Children Home in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ms Noluthando Mayende-Malepe said the younger generation are the most resourceful assets of Africa.

“They are the future of our nations. Mandela scarified 67 years of his life to give children dignity, he was jailed for 27 years and when he came out, he continued with the work that he started,” Ms Mayende-Malepe said.

She reminded that Mr Mandela fought for democracy and freedom. More notably, Ms Mayende-Malepe noted that Mr Mandela championed the Ubuntu philosophy which means “you are, because we are” stressing the need for supporting one another including children.

“He sacrificed his life for us to get our freedom and today we are free nation,” Ms Mayende-Malepe.

In that regard, he said their presence at the Kurasini National Children Home intended to showcase solidarity to the government of Tanzania in fostering children wellbeing.

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Ms Mayende-Malepe also called for peace in the entire continent for prosperity of all people urging countries to prioritise dialogues and negotiations rather than military fighting.

“We are tired of wars, we want to see peace, we want to see our young people doing great things,” she said.

Diplomatically, Ms Mayende-Malepe said the governments of South Africa and Tanzania enhance people to people relations for citizens of the two countries to explore socio-economic opportunities.

She said South Africa’s learning institutions now teach its children Kiswahili. For her part, UN’s Resident Coordinator, Ms Susan Namondo said the Mandela Day urges all people to reflect on the value of unity, compassion and justice.

“Let us honour Madiba’s legacy not only through our words but through our actions by choosing service over silence and compassion over complacency and unity over division,” Ms Namondo said.

In a related development, she emphasised the importance of good upbringing to all children encompassing ensuring all of them get quality education, the most important weapon for driving positive changes in the continent.

Kurasini National Children Home’s Manager Mr Twaha Kibalula thanked the South Africa’s High Commissioner to Tanzania and UN Resident Coordinator for visiting the national centre for neglected children care.

“Their presence has demonstrated compassion and solidarity to the needy” Mr Kibalula said. He said the centre had a total of 100 children who prior to being at the centre were neglected by their parents in various streets across the country.