GOVERNMENT must be on top of things and increase its efforts in the fight against early pregnancies and marriages in Zambia.
It is for this reason that I totally support calls by our Gender minister Elizabeth Phiri for the need to heighten multi-sectorial approach by all stakeholders to curb the vice.
The issue of early pregnancies and marriages, I feel has done enough rounds without seeable solutions. This definitely worries.
Eastern Province where I come from appears to be worst culprit of early pregnancies and marriages which has been extended to school going girls.
For me I think government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should go flat out and engage traditional leaders because these things are mostly happening in their chiefdoms
Child marriages represent multiple violations of child rights as it brings an end to schooling, exposes girls to gender based violence (GBV), teenage pregnancies and risks of contracting sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS among others.
Our government may also wish to consider harshest punishment for those involved in promoting early marriage and pregnancies for the good of Zambia.
We all know that child marriages have drastically affected the future of the young generation especially in rural areas.
We can ignore this war at our own peril.JOYCE T PHIRI, CHAWAMA
