President Edgar Lungu says the increasing number of child defilement cases, remains a great concern for the government.
Addressing Parliament, Friday morning, on the Progress made in the Application of National Values and Principles, President Lungu said there is need to stiffen laws on the protection of the rights of children against social vices such as defilement, child marriages and teen pregnancies.
President Lungu however noted that sensitisation programmes against these vices have resulted in an increase in the number of cases being reported and dealt with.
“A total of 2,653 cases of defilement comprising 2,637 girls and 16 boys were reported throughout the country in 2019, while 2,578 were reported in 2018 of which 2,574 were girls and 4 were boys,” President Lungu said.
The Head of State stressed that more still needs to be done in addressing this challenge and has therefore implored traditional leaders, families, the church, civil society and law enforcement agencies to redouble their efforts in protecting innocent children.
“Families must desist from the temptation of protecting perpetrators from facing the law,” President Lungu added.
Meanwhile, President Lungu also expressed sadness that Gender based violence cases have continued to increase despite various measures put in place.
He said GBV continues to erode the moral fibre of society, hence the need to inculcate good morals in children at a tender age so that they grow into respectable citizens.
President Lungu said it is saddening to note that the number of GBV cases reported countrywide increased from 22,073 in 2018 to 25,121 in 2019 and that majority of victims were women and girls, accounting for 19,720 cases.
He said while he appreciates the efforts being made to report the cases, collective effort should be on reducing the incidences of Gender Based Violence in communities.
And President Lungu disclosed that to facilitate the protection, rehabilitation and legal support to GBV victims, 32 one-stop centres have been established in selected hospitals in all the ten provinces.
“We have also continued to establish fast track courts across the country. We now have 7 fast track courts, with one additional fast track court having been established in Kitwe in 2019,” he added
President Lungu said the courts are facilitating the speedy disposal of Gender Based Violence cases.
the laws that need stiffening are corruption and thieving, not these love affair laws . they are already tight
GBM whom you recently welcomed back into the party and gave some lowly position is actually one of the perpetrators and this speech should be directed to him first.
Instead of stiffening laws against corruption which is a cancer eating on our economic surely. Theft by servant also needs stiffening too and also we need a law that is clear for punishment against thieving presidents.
Look at woman Namugala, she is still moaning her nephew shot by Kampyongo’s employees.
Yes Edgar is safe because he get beaten by Ba Ester!! Ba Edgar, abusing women is treating them like you are doing to Namugala. Imagine if Kampyongo’s department killed Matibini’s nephew, the all parliament would have gone to that funeral, just because he has balls.
BUT ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONA EH!!!!!!!!!!! THIS PRESIDENT OF OURS,AWEH MWANDI,KUWAYAWAYAFYE
Meanwhile PF is welcoming MPs who beat their wives to a pulp…this moron here is reading a speech…he thinks Parliament is a place to joke around. Last time he was reading a speech about alcoholism in youth what has happened since then….I mean why did this joker become President? The man is too incompetent to even given a position as Head Master of a Primary school.
Nostra …. – Its Friday you are already drunk moonshine is flowing .. typing gibberish again …keep off internet when intoxicated
Reading the above comments, I can understand the frustrations of most Zambians. I think it is important for the president to adopt a bipartisan approach in respect of stiffening certain laws. I find it very contradicting to see the president urging stiffening laws to address GBV. Some of the people around him have been perpetrating violence against their significant other for most of their lives and therefore, the law should not only target the poor and those so called leaders with a history of violence against women should never be allowed to hold office..lets set a precedent Mr Presido!!!!
Zambia is on autopilot