Traditional leader pledges support to fight GBV and early child marriages

Traditional leader pledges support to fight GBV and early child marriages

Solwezi, May 24, ZANIS ——Sub-chief Mukumbi Katotola of Solwezi district has pledged to work with the government in the fight against gender based violence and early marriages.

Sub-chief Katotola said that he will not tolerate parents that are in a habit of marrying off their children at a tender age in his area as doing so is curtailing their full potential to contribute to the national development if they were to grow without being disturbed.

The traditional leader made the pledge during a sensitization campaign against gender based violence and early marriages conducted by World Vision Zambia in conjunction with the Ministry of  Gender and Child Development in Solwezi.

He therefore, encouraged children in his area to concentrate on their education in order for them to become self reliant and compete favourably on the job market brought about by the opening of the mines in the area, adding that women have proved to have the capacity to contribute to national development at all levels.

And speaking during the same occasion, Gender and Child Development Officer, Chipoka Simukanga called upon women in the area to form clubs and apply for Women Empowerment Funds for their projects under the Gender Ministry.

 Mr Simukanga said that once they access the funds, it will help them to start up income generation projects and expand on existing ones  to become economically independent thereby reducing over dependency on men.

He advised the community not to relent but report all forms of gender based violence to relevant authorities for action.