Criminalise child marriages, demands NGO
By Staff Reporter
Media Network on Child Rights and Development executive director Henry Kabwe has urged the government to put structures at district level that can help curb teenage pregnancies.
Recently, it was revealed that only four out of 28 girls at Chitoshi Day Secondary School in Lunte district would sit for grade 12 examinations this year due to pregnancies.
Kabwe explained that the country was losing out a population of school going children who were supposed to be educated for them to contribute to national development.
‘’The escaleting leveles of child marriages and teenage pregnancies is something that should be taken seriously by the government. It is important for the government to come up with programmes to ensure that there is drastic reduction of teenage pregnancies and child marriages in Zambia,’’ said Kabwe.
And Musokotwane Commpassion Mission Zambia expressed sadness at trhe report.
Executive director Genious Musokotwane said the revalation must be a wake up call for all traditional leaders and non governmental organisations to intensify the need to criminalise child marriages.
‘’Current laws, policies and investment status on child marriage in Zambia cannot quarantee the realisation of a zero child marriage status by 2030 as the ages of 16 and 18 years cannot be smoothly prosecuted and perpertraitors sentenced, while most of those succefully retrieved are likely to end up relapsing due to lack of education and basic needs sponsorship for them to stay in school and complet their education,’’ said Musokotwane.
