Child marriage: Graca impressed with Zambia’s strides

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:36:30 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA

ZAMBIA has done very well in legislation, strategies and plans to end child marriage, early pregnancies and HIV/AIDs among adolescents, wife to late South African President Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel, has observed after a three-day visit to Zambia.

During her visit, Ms Machel held meetings with senior Government officials, Members of Parliament, Civil Society Organizations and United Nations agencies with the aim to garner national visibility in her role as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate.

Addressing journalists at Parliament in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Machel said she was pleased that Zambia had launched its 7th National Development Plan.

She said it was an indication of renewing commitment to take the country to a higher level economically.

Ms Machel said she was happy that the Government was working towards domesticating the SDGs.

“Zambia has done very well in terms of legislation, strategies and plans to end child marriages, early pregnancies and HIV/AIDs among the adolescents,” she said.

Ms Machel said following good legislation by the Zambia, it was now time to develop programs which supported the girl child.

She said the major challenge was the implementation of the legislation by rolling it out in all the provinces and districts where plans could be translated into reality.

Ms Machel observed that although Zambia had come up with good legislation, early pregnancies, child marriage, HIV/AIDs among adolescents, maternal and child mortality rate was still too high.

“We need to fold our sleeves and double our efforts implementing the legislation on child marriage, early pregnancies and HIV/AIDs,” Ms Machel said.

She said ending the scourge was also dependent on ending the escalating poverty levels in society.

Ms Machel said the 7th National Development Plan was meant to renew Zambia’s commitment to ending poverty and reflect on how it operated in the past before moving forward.

“We need to look deep in how we have been operating. What can we do more and what can we do better?

“Let us open up and learn from other countries,” Ms Machel said.