Kitwe DC bemoans failed referendum
Published On August 29, 2016 » 2053 Views» By Davies M.M Chanda » Latest News
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. Kabwe

. Kabwe

By JOWIT SALUSEKI –
KITWE District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe says Zambia has lost an opportunity for the citizenry to enjoy added rights in the Bill of Rights.
Mr Kabwe said had the referendum, which was held alongside the recently-held general elections, succeeded, Zambians would have taken their Government to task by ensuring that it provides them with schools, hospitals and other social amenities in their communities.
Mr Chanda said the public would have had an opportunity to sue the Government if they felt that social amenities were not provided for them had the referendum gone through.
He was speaking in Kitwe during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) on ways of ending early marriages in the country.
Mr Kabwe was saddened to learn that the Copperbelt Province had the second highest prevalence rates of early marriages in the country.
He said the Government would sternly punish parents marrying off their children at a tender age.
Mr Kabwe said there were many schools constructed by the Government across the country so that every child could have access to education within their locality.
“As a Government we have ensured that schools are available in all regions of the country so that every child has access to education in order to curtail early marriages,” he said.
Mr Kabwe said the Government was committed to promoting national development which he said should be appreciated by every citizen regardless of their gender.
He said children should be given a chance to be educated because they were an important component that had a responsibility and potential to contribute to national development.
Speaking at the same function, ZLDC director Hope Chanda cited Lufwanyama, Masaiti and Mpongwe as some of the districts on the Copperbelt where child marriages were rife.
Ms Chanda said marrying off children at a tender age deprived young girls of an opportunity to complete school and contribute to the economic development of the country.
She said most young mothers who had been rushed into marriages were suffering psychological, physical and emotional trauma as they were not ready to cope with the responsibilities of taking care of homes.

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