LILLIAN CHIKANDI writes
YOUTHS of Chirundu and Siavonga have been advised to shift their energy into productive activities and avoid themselves from engaging in those that will destroy their future.
The advice came from Medicines Transparency Alliance Zambia (META), a Chirundu local network in collaboration with the Zambia police child protection unit who took turns to counsel youths and parents from Salvation Army Church who camped at Syakalyabanyama Village of Chirundu district at the weekend.
Chirundu META Local network focal person Mr Ezekiel Munsaki told the youths to refrain from satisfying sexual desires by engaging in sex at a tender age.
Mr Munsaki instead encouraged the youths to shift their energy into productive activities to secure their future.
He also condemned parents who were in a habit of marrying off their children at a tender age and appealed to them to desist from such tendencies which also had detrimental health effects arising from early marriages.
And addressing the same gathering, Zambia police child protection unit coordinator woman constable Doreen Moonga also advised the congregants to report all forms of abuse to the police.
Ms Moonga regretted the increasing number of all forms of child abuse happening in schools, churches and communities in the district.
She explained that sexual abuse was not only having sex with a child but even touching of the genital parts.
She regretted that most parents in the district opted to resolving child abuse cases among themselves for fear of having the perpetrator arrested and the victim’s family to be deemed as heartless.
Meanwhile Chirundu Salvation Army Lieutenant Victor Mwinga expressed gratitude for the sensitization talk on sexual reproductive health and child protection against abuse.
Lt Mwinga hoped that the message would change many lives of the congregants.
The seven days Salvation Army youth camp was held under the theme “Rooted Deep In The word of God”.
