Harare’s Junior Council Told to Deliver Safe Cities

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume urges the city’s Junior Council to tackle child safety and public transport risks (image source)

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has challenged the newly inaugurated 73rd City of Harare Junior Council to take tangible action on public safety after the alleged abuse of a 13-year-old girl at the Julia Zvobgo Street bus rank, saying young leaders must move beyond rhetoric to deliver results.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mafume said the incident — and subsequent public debate that saw some commuter omnibus drivers attempt to blame the victim’s clothing — underscored deep societal and infrastructure failures. He praised the public backlash and apology that followed, urging junior councillors to make child safety and public transport reform their first priority.

National Junior Council Coordinator Darlington Mupfupi told the gathering that young leaders “may also hold the solutions” to long-term issues such as substance abuse, decaying infrastructure, and unsafe transit systems, linking their work to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 goals.

However, structural constraints remain. The Junior Council carries symbolic authority but has limited formal powers or budget, unless the City of Harare commits dedicated resources. While municipal documents cite efforts to formalise funding and policy support, these have lagged behind commitments, leaving youth programmes dependent on short-term projects and external partners. Without sustained financing, awareness campaigns risk failing to produce enforceable safety reforms.

Analysts and youth policy experts say the Junior Council’s credibility will depend on measurable initiatives. Practical steps could include:

• Public-transport safety audits at known high-risk sites such as Julia Zvobgo Street

• Partnerships with the Zimbabwe Republic Police for “safe-ride” monitoring

• School-to-station escort programmes for vulnerable pupils
  

Experts warn that tokenistic consultations without measurable outcomes will lead to disillusionment among youth leaders. Meaningful progress, they argue, requires cross-departmental cooperation among transport, education, and social welfare agencies.

Zimbabwe’s Junior Councils have long served as civic incubators, encouraging youth participation in governance. The National Junior Councils Association coordinates these activities and campaigns for recognition within local government structures. Past Harare Junior Councils have led clean-up drives, anti-drug campaigns, and awareness marches, though their impact has fluctuated due to inconsistent funding and limited institutional backing.

Key measures of success will include whether the City of Harare allocates a specific budget, whether the Junior Council signs formal agreements with police and transport authorities, and whether follow-up safety audits show fewer incidents at high-risk transport hubs. If the Junior Council moves quickly to publish a clear, measurable safety plan, it could turn public outrage into real protection for children in urban spaces.