Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Chief Chamuka
Chief Chamuka of the Lenje speaking people in Chisamba district has urged fellow traditional leaders in the country to be custodians of positive cultural practices that can help fight child marriages in the country.
Speaking in Lusaka during his inauguration as a regional traditional leader champion for the 18+ (plus) ending child marriage programme, Chief Chamuka says traditional leaders should not support bad cultural practices.
He has also noted the need to bridge the age gaps in the laws pertaining to child protection and minimum age for marriage.
Chief Chamuka has further appealed to the government to come up with a deliberate policy that should compel all employers to implement the child protection policy and anti gender based violence act.
He says this will compel companies to put more money in education, health and gender equality initiatives and strategies.
Chief Chamuka notes that the continent can only delay marriage if children are kept in school.
He has also attributed child marriages in his chiefdom to high poverty levels, bad cultural practices and lack of employment among others.
Speaking at the same event, Plan International Zambia Country Director, Samuel Musyoki says child marriages mainly happen in rural communities and among poor households, hence the need to focus ending child marriage efforts toward grassroots interventions while working with traditional leaders.