TO THE MINISTRY OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION 11.5 Administrative regulations must be developed by the relevant ministry to prevent political activities from being conducted in schools, to guarantee that only pupils, staff, parents, legal guardians and others whose presence is necessary are allowed into schools. 11.6 There is need to promote the creation of youth associations without political affiliation. 11.7 Children’s understanding of democratic processes must be developed through the educational system, and the educational curriculum must be reviewed to permit this. 11.8 Children’s participation in political processes should be encouraged, but through a process that takes into account several factors which include best interest of the child and age of the child among other considerations. 11.9 Protect school resources from abuse by politicians in pursuit of private political interests which have nothing to do with the schools (students, teachers, and parents). TO THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, LEGAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS 11.10 It is the responsibility of the Government to come up with specific laws and to put in place safeguards that guarantee the protection of children from political manipulation. 11.11 Laws and regulations should be made that ban the use of schools by political actors, the use of children at schools in political activities, the enrolment/involvement of children in political activities without their parents’ prior consent, and the use of school buses for transporting political activists. 11.12 Zimbabwe as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child, should effectively implement the provisions that protect children from exploitation by every section of the society, including political parties, civil society and media to curb against the use of children in political activities. TO THE COMMUNITY 11.13 Parents and guardians should be encouraged to hold discussions with children to allow for their informed participation in political activities. 11.4 Young children should not participate in demonstrations or rallies unless under their parents’ supervision. Page 14 of 17