Children deserve our love and care

As we celebrate Child Protection Week, let us do so knowing that children are a gift from God and they deserve to be nurtured with safe hands. We are tired of waking up to horrible stories about young girls raped by men who should be looking after them.

We cannot afford to continue reading about stories of young boys who are converted into child soldiers by selfish warmongers who have made more enemies to fight against.

Children are born free and with empty minds, and it is up to us what we fill their minds with. We must not abuse children because they may grow up thinking that abuse is a way of life. It is frequently stated that abused children are future abusers and we cannot afford to have this vicious cycle going on.

Children are precious and vulnerable; they deserve our love and care. As caring members of society, we must break the silence whenever we witness incidents of child abuse.

Malphia Honwane Gottenburg eManyeleti