Mumbwa residents turned out in numbers to submit petitions to the Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC-Z) on ending child marriages which continue to rise in the district.
The Vice-Chairperson, Dr. Felicity Kayumba Kalunga led Commissioner Laura Mary Miti and Commissioner Panic Mukamambo Malawo Chilufya in receiving the submissions during the public hearing which was held in the morning on 18th November 2025 at Mumbwa Council Chamber.
In her opening remarks, the Vice Chairperson expressed deep concern that girls continued to drop out of schools due to child marriages.
“It is sad to note that a number of young girls are reportedly getting into marriage and dropping out of school. We would like to hear from your experiences as to what is causing these child marriages to be so high in this district,” Dr. Kalunga said.
Presenting a petition to HRC-Z Commissioners on behalf of the Teacher Child Advocacy Association of Zambia, Mr. Enoch Siame, called for stiff punishment of parents or guardians who allow their children to drop out of school as their actions put girls at high risk of being abused sexually or forced into marriage.
Mr. Siame also called for urgent establishment and operationalisation of the National Coordination Committee for Children as provided for under the Children’s Code Act, with presence at national, provincial, district and ward levels to ensure effective coordination of efforts aimed at protecting children from abuse including child marriages.
Another petitioner, Ms. Ruth Makala, who was representing Mumbwa Women’s Association, identified the lack of adolescent-friendly clinics in rural areas as one of the causes of child marriages.
“Just like the way farmers have access to information about agriculture through decentralised systems, child-friendly services should also be decentralised and easily accessible to fight child marriages and early pregnancies,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kelvin Chikwanka from Zambia Police Service Mumbwa Victim Support Unit noted that poverty, vulnerability, culture and low education levels were among the factors that contributed to increased cases of child marriages in the district.
Mr. Chikwanka expressed deep concern at the growing hostility by parents and some community members towards police officers who were trying to protect children against child marriages, as he called for cooperation and collaboration between the police and the communities in fighting the vice.
Submissions by other petitioners attributed child marriages to children’s exposure to inappropriate content on the internet, drug and alcohol abuse, child neglect and inadequate punishment of perpetrators.
HRC-Z will hold the second session of the Public Hearing at Kasalu Primary School on 19th November 2025 where Commissioners will be receiving submission from residents of Nangoma.
