Govt. committed to fight social -ills affecting the Zambian child

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Govt. committed to fight social –ills affecting the Zambian child

Chipata, June 17,2014, ZANIS  —  Government says it is still committed in fighting social-economic ills affecting the Zambian child such as early marriages.

 

Chipata District Commissioner (DC) Kalunga Zulu says for this reason government has put in place stiffer punishment on perpetrators to  deter would be offenders.

 

He has since advised men to give the children a chance to complete their education adding that government through the judiciary will not hesitate to meet out more than ten years’ jail sentences and above for defiling children.

 

The District Commissioner said this during the Day of the African Child held at Feni Day Secondary School held under the theme: “Zambia at 50 years towards a child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children”.

 

He also noted that it is a responsibility of parents to protect children from issues that hinder them from going to school like cattle herding.

 

“There is hardly a day that passes without a report of a child being defiled, other issues of great concern include increasing cases of falling pregnant, child, early and forced marriages, drug abuse and alcohol abuse, child neglect to mention but a few,’ he added.

 

A child representative Elizabeth Chinonda,  a grade seven at Chipikula Primary School, in chief Mpezeni’s area has called on government to criminalize issues relating to early marriages.

 

12 years old Chinonda said it is sad to note that most female children have gone into early marriages at a tender age a trend which parents also play a role.

 

She  further said that teenage pregnancies was also a source of concern because most girls have been impregnated by ruthless and uncaring men within communities.

 

The day is commemorated to remember the lives of children who lost their lives during the apartheid regime in Soweto, South Africa, on 16thJune, 1976 following protests against an apartheid inspired education system.

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