Government has warned that any one who gets involved in marrying off a teenage girl will be prosecuted.
Speaking during the State Of the National Address on national values and principles in parliament on Friday, President Hakainde Hichilema has addressed much issue of which some include the issue of early child marriages and gender based violence.
President Hichilema said government will harmonize children legislation to ensure children’s rights are protected and that those who marry teenage girls be arrested.
The president also noted the acts of gender based violence that are not being reported specifically in rural areas and peri- urban settlements.
President Hichilema urged citizens to be alert and take it upon themselves to report such cases to the law enforcement agencies, further stating that government aims to end gender based violence.
“These teenage girls are exposed to health complications and sometimes even death at a point of giving birth, as government we are implementing school re-entry policy and keeping girls in school as a program to ensure the girl child remains in school and is protected from such devices,” he said.
