President Lungu said this in Lusaka today when the Swedish delegation led by Swedish Minister of Education Gustav Fridolin paid a courtesy call on him.
President Lungu said when a child is denied quality education it results in early pregnancies and early marriages.
He said government will incorporate various government ministries to ensure that education on the dangers of early marriages is scaled up.
The Head of State said Traditional rulers will also be brought on board to ensure that they protect the children from early marriages and the consequences of early pregnancies.
He said traditional leaders have played a pivotal role in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to book and this has drastically reduced the cases in their chiefdoms.
“It is important that to avoid all this that quality education is provided at all levels of society in order to ensure that no one is left behind. When a child is denied education as a result of early marriages or pregnancies, it is a loss to mankind and the society they live in,” President Lungu said.
He has assured the delegation that they have a partnership in the presidency, as government will ensure that the fight against early marriages and pregnancies is fought.
Meanwhile Swedish Minister of Education Gustav Fridolin said Sweden enjoys good relations with the government and the people of Zambia.
Mr. Fridolin said their main interest is in the comprehensive sexual reproductive health education in the country.
He said sexual reproductive health is good because it allows the young ones to make informed decisions.
What’s the standard age in Zambian?
Ecl be forecast please the period remaining is too short. Early marriages are as a result of poverty. You need to create enough jobs for the people to combat early marriages. Early marriages used to happen in the olden years and it was not an issue then. Akana ka ngwena kakulila kwi tete. Parents are doing it as a way of distressing their poverty levels. Encourage more agricultural activities and revamp the process industry and this issue will die naturally.
Good point, However your Tasila is old enough to marry now.
All talk…
Has Government done their research on why some of the girls marry early? I don’t wanna be one of those who claps for empty agendas, let’s talk about empowering the girls with their needs first before thinking we can just wake up and start telling them they can’t marry. Most of them are running away from poverty this is why you see majority of the girls by the University of Zambia going out na bakalamba umulanda ya nsala kumayanda yabo abaiche balya
The Minister has a point. Education is the empowering tool. Sexual Reproductive Health Education is what is required. Is Education free in zambia? No, that is the problem. Our leaders only think of bringing the perpetrators to book, always thinking of sending Police and soldiers to harm their citizens. There thinking is not towards productivity and engaging the people, bena it’s all about punishing People. Change your approach.
Hajealousy!
Early marriages & pregnancies occur under the watch of your local chiefs bwana Lungu .