Thursday, March 28, 2024

Senior government official acknowledges the increase in child labour in Mpika

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A senior government official in Mpika has acknowledged the increase in child labour in the district which he said needs immediate interventions by all stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of Mpika District Commissioner, Moses Katebe, during the official opening of a two-day- workshop on the formation of District Child labour Committee held at Fresh Air Lodge today, District Education Board secretary, Christopher Sinkamba, said the issue of child labour needed to be taken and fought with the seriousness it deserves, saying if treated as a normal way of child tutoring children will be turned into slaves.

Mr Katebe said government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with other social partners, has embarked on a spirited campaign to combat child labour and eradicate all its worst forms.

He explained that child labour is so eminent and, if left unchecked will destroy the future of the children, hence the need to ensure that children are protected from all forms of child labour.

He added that Government has taken keen interest in ensuring that the welfare of Zambian Children is safeguarded and embraced by well meaning citizens.
Mr Katebe observed that the challenge to fight child labour is coming from the parents and guardians who are in a habit of using children to earn a living which in turn exposes the children to other forms of abuse by the public.

Mr Katebe also explained that the committee has been constituted at a right time when the district has seen an increase in many economic activities where people want to make more money to fend for their families thereby engaging children in business.

He added that Zambia, being the signatory to the International Labour Organisation and has ratified the Convention number 182 on worst forms of Child Labour and 138 has given the country an impetus as a bonafide member of the International Community.

He has since appealed to the parents in communities to stop depriving children their rights to enjoy their childhood activities and amenities and warned that soon some parents will be taken to court
for child labour because it is a legal and mental problem.

And during a discussion programme the participants expressed concern on the increase of child prostitution and child vending in Mpika district which they said is contributing greatly to defilement cases as well as the spread of HIV/AIDS.

They said that in the recent past, Mpika district has recorded an increase in early marriages, child defilement and child abuse emanating from child labour and called upon government to quickly
intervene by providing necessary incentives that will help to combat the vices.

The participants also noted that Mpika has recorded a high number of children being trafficked from far flung areas such as Chiundaponde, Muwele and Nabwalya to Mpika town enroot to Lusaka and Copper belt in the name of helping them to get back to school but are being turned into house maids.

The participants added that the trafficked children are abused sexually either by their relatives or employers.

ZANIS

5 COMMENTS

    • @ Mushota.
      It is not a terrible country. The way you talk about Zambia, I doubt if at all you are sane. This is your motherland wether you go to the moon or Mars. Nothing will change. Mushota is a name from Luapula province, that is were your roots are. Don’t pretend to be what you are not, so give respect to mother Zambia and all its people.

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