UK SECRETARY of State for International Development Justine Greening is today expected in Zambia to offer support to the campaign on ending child marriages.
Ms Greening will be in Zambia for two days for a series of meetings with First Lady Christine Kaseba and the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Nkandu Luo.
She will address a regional symposium on ending child marriage being hosted by Dr Kaseba and Professor Luo.
This is according to a statement released by the press and public affairs section of the UK High Commission in Zambia.
The symposium will highlight both the dangers of child marriage and the long-term harm it does to communities.
The statement says that Ms Greening is pleased to visit Zambia just three months before the country’s golden independence jubilee.
‘The UK has supported Zambia ever since its independence, and has a very substantial cooperation programme here,” the statement reads.
Ms Greening commended Government for being the first African country to launch the campaign to end child marriage.
“Child marriage is a huge problem in Zambia with nearly two in five girls married off before they are 18. It is great to see how much the movement is growing in momentum,” she said.
During her visit, Ms Greening will also explore trade linkages between the UK and Zambia to promote economic development.
The visit is part of a wider UK Government campaign to put a global spotlight on ending child marriage.
Zambia Daily Mail