Chinhoyi Technical High Student, 0 Lionel Mazarire, Elected 2025 Junior President of Zimbabwe

By Dumisani Ndlovu

Harare, Zimbabwe - Lionel Mazarire of Chinhoyi Technical High School in Mashonaland West province has been declared the 2025-2026 Junior President of Zimbabwe, following Junior Parliamentary elections held today at the Harare Institute of Technology.
Mazarire secured a decisive victory with 61 votes, emerging as the clear winner in a nationwide competition. His closest contender, Michael Ndambani of Chaplin High School in the Midlands province, garnered 47 votes and will automatically assume the position of Junior Speaker of Parliament.
The elections saw representation from all ten provinces of Zimbabwe, with each province putting forward its candidate for the presidential seat. A total of 353 votes were cast in the election, with only 3 votes deemed spoiled, indicating a high level of participation and engagement from the young leaders.
The Junior President-elect, Lionel Mazarire, is now preparing for his official duties, which will commence with the opening of the 33rd session of the Junior Parliament. This significant event is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 20th, at the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden.
The opening ceremony coincides with the belated Day of the African Child Commemorations, which this year runs under the theme “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010”. The event is expected to be a high-profile affair, with His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa serving as the guest of honor.
Mazarire's election signifies a commitment to youth leadership and empowerment within Zimbabwe, providing a platform for young voices to contribute to national discourse and policy-making. His tenure as Junior President promises to be a period dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of children across the nation. Mazarire took over from the former Junior President, Pious Lwandile
Nleya.