WE ARE THE VOICE: FROM MOZAMBIQUE TO JOHANNESBURG, ISON CUMBANE DEMANDS CHANGE

By Cuma Pantshwa

• Child leaders are making their voices heard loud and clear at the African Children’s Summit 2025 taking place this weekend in Johannesburg.
• Fifteen-year-old Ison Cumbane from Mozambique told the gathering that many children in Mozambique do not have the opportunity to speak about their rights, so the delegation is here to give them a voice.
• Cumbane spoke candidly about the effects of armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, the northernmost province of Mozambique, of climate change, and the impact of certain traditions on the country’s children.

At just 15 years old, Ison Cumbane from Mozambique is not only attending the African Children’s Summit 2025, he is also making sure his voice is heard.

Held in Johannesburg, the summit – Africa’s largest child-led gathering – brings together young voices from across the continent.

Today, 6 April 2025, marks Day 2 of the programme, spearheaded by the Department of Social Development and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

The summit is not just about child participation; it is about children leading and making decisions that affect their futures. For Cumbane, this mission is deeply personal.

“Yeah, day one was very interesting,” he said with an enthusiastic smile. “We had the opportunity to share experiences with other children, learn from each other, and watch cultural presentations. It was exciting to see children leading a summit like this.”

But behind Cumbane’s excitement is a strong sense of duty.

In Mozambique, a country where, according to a UNICEF Children and Youth in Mozambique Fact Sheet published in March 2025, children make up half the population, many are silenced by circumstances such as poverty, conflict, cultural expectations, and climate disasters.

“Many children in Mozambique don’t have the opportunity to speak about their rights,” Cumbane explained. “We are here to give voice to them and show that we can participate and influence decisions.”

Facing climate change on the coast

Mozambique is no stranger to climate-related crises. From devastating cyclones to rising floods, the country’s coastal provinces are frequently hit, often displacing families and disrupting children’s access to education.

“When floods come, people lose their homes and have to move into school buildings,” Cumbane shared. “That means children can’t attend school, so teachers travel to the communities instead to keep education going.”

While these ‘mobile schools’ are a creative solution, they reflect a much deeper crisis: safety and schooling are constantly under threat.

Displaced by war, yet hopeful

Beyond climate disasters, Cumbane spoke candidly about the effects of armed conflict in Cabo Delgado, one of Mozambique’s most affected provinces.

“Many children suffered because they were lost without their parents and were forced to flee to other provinces, sometimes not even knowing where their families were. It was scary and heartbreaking.”

Thanks to joint efforts by the Mozambican government and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), things are slowly changing.

“Now children are returning. Schools are reopening. It makes me happy to see things improving,” he said.

Finding a voice through the Children’s Parliament

Despite the many challenges, Cumbane takes pride in the growing opportunities for child participation in his country. He is a member of the Children’s Parliament – an initiative supported by the Ministry of Gender, Work, and Social Action – that that allows young people to contribute to laws and policies that affect their lives.

“There we can share ideas and participate in decision-making processes,” he said.

“Sometimes we feel like they’re not listening, but we keep trying. We make efforts to guarantee they hear us,” says the confident Cumbane.

One such victory is a new law that combats child marriage, a major issue in many Mozambican communities.

“In some places, when a girl gets pregnant – even by an adult – she is forced to marry,” Cumbane explained.

“There’s also a tradition where girls go through initiation when they’re very young, as soon as they start menstruating. After that, they’re considered ready for marriage, even though they’re still children.”

Cumbane and other young advocates are not against the cultural practice of initiation itself but are pushing for a shift in its meaning and implications.

“We’re not against the tradition,” he clarified. “But going through initiation should not mean a girl must get married. She must still go to school. She must still have a future. Child marriages must end!”

Through partnerships with government and civil society, children like Cumbane helped develop a national guide to ensure that initiation rites do not result in forced marriage.

“We fought for five years to get this law. Now we are working to educate communities so they understand that girls can go through initiation without being married off.”

A future led by children

As the summit continues, Cumbane’s voice, along with thousands of other children from across Africa, rings loud and clear.

Standing tall and proud, he demonstrates that harnessing the energy, insight, and determination of Mozambican children is key to unlocking a brighter, more sustainable future for the country.

From the coastlines of Mozambique to the vibrant halls of Johannesburg, Ison Cumbane is living proof that when children are given the platform, they do not just speak – they lead.