State Committed to Kid’s Welfare

17 June 2011

Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima has said the Government will continue to provide an enabling environment to help young people grow into responsible citizens.

Mr Muchima said the Government was committed to improving the welfare of young people as outlined in the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).

He said through the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, programmes were underway to ensure that children and young people received the necessary support to enable them become productive citizens.

Mr Muchima said this yesterday in a speech read for him by Livingstone District Commissioner Francis Chika during the commemoration of the African Child Day held at Livingstone Civic Centre.

He said children living on the streets were one of the country’s greatest social challenges.

Mr Muchima said urban areas in Zambia had witnessed a rise in the number of vulnerable children seeking a livelihood on the streets.

And a pupil from Livingstone’s St Mary’s Secondary School, Glenda Kabwe urged the Government to put in place laws that would protect children and that no child should be left to sleep on the streets.

Speaking during a similar commemoration, Chipata District Commissioner Moses Nyirenda said the Government had made strides towards the protection and promotion of the children’s welfare.

Mr Nyirenda said the welfare of the children was now guaranteed because of the various inclusions to the national Constitution.

The district commissioner urged young people to report all forms of abuse to relevant authorities in order for such culprits to be brought to book.

And a 12-year-old grade seven pupil at Lunkhakwa Basic School, Mary Phiri appealed to the Government to help curb increased street children problem, child labour, early pregnancies and dropping out of school.

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