“WE’LL SEAL LEGAL GAPS IN FIGHT AGAINST CHILD MARRIAGES”

President Edgar Lungu says government is harmonising laws that will enhance the fight against early child marriages.
President Lungu says the harmonised law will seal the gaps in the fight against child marriages.
He said the ministries of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Justice and Cabinet will come up with strategies and implement recommendations that have been made to stop early child marriages and teen pregnancies.
President Lungu was speaking when he met with some traditional leaders who traveled to Malawi and Nigeria to attend a Conference on ending child marriages.
He said it is important that traditional leaders champion early childhood marriages to zero tolerance.
President Lungunoted that the country has made strides in the fight against early child marriages but more needs to be done.
And President Lungu has also urged traditional leaders to work with government in the agricultural sector noting that the country is faced with challenges such as poor rainfall.
And giving the report, Head of Delegation, Chief Chamuka said traditional leaders on the African continent have vowed to break the silence on early child marriages and have zero tolerance on the matter.
Chief Chamuka however said there is a request that the traditional leaders should be given a permanent seat at the African Union to enable them have active participation in such matters because they understand culture.
He also said there is need for the scaling up of resources in support of the African traditional leader’s action plan to address Child marriages and promote Gender equality at all levels.
The traditional leader has since proposed that government moves the age at which a girl child should marry from 18 to 21 years.
He has also called on Government to call for a national indaba in 2019 where all the 288 chiefs should be present to discuss among other things, the fight against child marriages.
Chief Chamuka said the indaba will enable the traditional leaders to come up with harmonized customary laws.
And responding to the request, President Lungu said the indaba was not budgeted for but would seek various stakeholders to facilitate the Indaba.
The Chiefs present were, Chief Madzimawe, Chieftainess Muwezwa and Chief Chikwanda.