PSAf calls for stiffer punishment for child abuse

PANOS Institute Southern Africa (PSAf) has called on the Zambian government to stiffen punishment for teachers and other guardians who sexually abuse and defile pupils under their care.

PSAf is concerned that media reports of teachers, parents or guardians abusing pupils have become a daily occurrence in the country.

In a statement to Qfm News PSAf Executive Director Lilian Kiefer has observed that while the authorities have repeatedly condemned defilement and abuse of children, it appears her organization that the warnings are falling on deaf ears, judging by the unabated pace at which the scourge continues.

Ms. Kiefer says what is saddening is that most of these abuses do not only hurt the children physically, they also subject them to immense mental torture and destroy the destiny of innocent children, while the perpetrators get on with their lives.

She thinks that this is however unacceptable.

Ms. Kiefer has particularly urged the Zambian government to learn from the Kenya Teachers Services Commission (TSC) that recently barred a total of 126 Kenyan teachers from teaching for the rest of their lives for engaging in sexual relations with students, among other forms of misconduct.