By ANNIE ZULU
COMMUNITY Development and Social Services Minister Doreen Mwamba has assured that a Champion for children’s rights
figure will be identified.
Ms Mwamba made the assurance when Child Fund Country
Director Simba Machingaidze paid a courtesy call on her at her office.
Mr Machingaidze who was accompanied by the
organization’s Program Director Doris Chirwa expressed concern that for some
time now, the country has had no notable public figure to actively champion the
rights of children.
He said a Champion figure would play a significant
role in advocating for children’s rights and soliciting support for children’s
programmes.
“There is need for a Champion for children’s issues
and it must be a public figure at high level like the First Lady, someone who
will be able to articulate issues affecting children in Zambia and seek
solutions,” Mr Machingaidze said.
He also shared with the Minister various programmes
that his organization was implementing throughout the country.
“We have various programmes such as mobilizing
communities, advocacy and sensitization among others. We work in different
communities across the country and our work is to connect children with people
and resources, also ensure that they have what they need. We work with
partners, including Government and children themselves,” he said.
And the Minister said a pronouncement would soon be
made regarding Champion for children’s rights figure.
Ms Mwamba said her Ministry was taking the lead in
addressing issues affecting children in the country, stressing that children
were the future and as such, should be protected.
“This is why we have pushed and worked hard to take
the Children’s Code Bill further. The Bill has provisions that will ensure that
children are protect, child abuse, early marriage, child labour and any other
violence against children will be a thing of the past,” she said.
Ms Mwamba further said her Ministry would continue engaging with partners, in improving the welfare of children in the country.
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