Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:31:46 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
STREET kids and adults in Lusaka have appealed to President Edgar Lungu to consider them materially during this festival season.
Stephen Musenge, 18, found at the Seventh Day Adventist church said the Head of State was a father for all, hence there was an urgent need for him to donate to them items such as clothes and beddings just like the way he had cared for the prisoners.
“We are appealing to our President, to assist us with clothes especially blankets. We are affected by the cold especially that it is rain season. We have nothing to cover ourselves with except the carton boxes and plastics,” he said amid sobs.
Musenge said he was a double orphan who looked after his sibling who had also joined him on the streets due to poverty and lack of care by family members.
“My youngest brother John is about 10 years old. He has also joined me on the streets. I had no means and choice but to allow the young boy to join me,” he said.
Another girl Mercy Nkamba, 16, who has a baby with a fellow street child, appealed to President Lungu and the First Lady Esther Lungu to help her financially or empower her with life skills such as tailoring and designing .
“I face a lot of challenges looking after this baby whose father is also a street child. I only survive through begging money from people specially motorists,” she said.
Gertrude Maisie, 16, said street life was hard because one needed to fight for survival.
“The problem is that one is forced to commit crimes or indulge in illicit behaviour such as sexual activities which was a risk due to dangers of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease (STIs) such as gonorrhea and syphilis,” she said.
And Pastor Maxwell Samakai from New Life Pentecostals Ministries who was found evangelising to the children said the world was coming to an end because people have turned against God.
Pastor Samakai observed that most children found on the streets lacked love and parental care especially when they lose both parents.
He loved to evangelise the word of God to the neglected, inflicted and people in needy especially the children.
