CHILD LABOUR WORRIES GOVERMENT

 By ANNIE ZULU

Community Development and Social Services Minister, Honourable Doreen Mwamba says her Ministry is engaging with other line Ministries and stakeholders to immediately address the issue of Child Labour, especially in the mining sector.

Ms. Mwamba has expressed concern that in the last years, Zambia has seen an increase in the number of children engaging in mining activities.

She said the issue needs urgent attention, stressing that if not addressed in good time, it would be difficult to contain the situation in future.

She has also observed that despite the introduction of free education by the New Dawn Government, some children still preferred engaging in mining works than going to school because of the little monies they were earning.

The Minister said this when a delegation from Pact paid a courtesy call on her at her office.

“This issue is a time bomb and my Ministry has a huge task. We will sit with our colleagues in the Ministries of Labour, Local Government, Education and Health, also stakeholders to see how we can address the issue.

“There is need for quick intervention, because such activities are harmful to the children and their health. Those children also need to be in schools, because what will happen if the mining activities are no longer there, they will turn to criminal activities,” Ms Mwamba said.

Meanwhile, the Minister said Government was on the outlook for partnerships that are aimed at improving the welfare of children.

She said she was optimistic that the partnership between her Ministry and Pact would yield good result in terms of addressing issues affecting vulnerable children.

And Pact Chief Executive Officer Caroline Anshy assured that her organization would work closely with the Ministry in ensuring that its programs have impact on children, especially on programs aimed at reducing new HIV infections among children.

Ms Anshy also commended the Ministry for various programs that it was implementing.