By MacPherson Mukuka
Let Girls be Girls,
and not Brides was the theme for the just ended 3 day National Symposium on
Ending Child Marriages in Zambia.
The Symposium which
mainly focused on what Government and its cooperating partners will do to end
the ever increasing number of girls been forced in to early marriages attracted
hundreds of delegates from across the country.
And as a contribution
to the campaign, the Canadian Government has pumped in funds to help spearhead the
end child marriage campaign in the country through UNICEF.
In presenting the 1
million Seven Hundred thousand Canadian Dollar Cheque to UNICEF, Canadian Head
of office in Zambia, Kumar Gupta said much has been talked about regarding
early marriage and what remains in action.
Mr. Kumar said Canada
has made ending child marriage a policy and development priority and that it is
intensifying the programme and advocacy efforts to address the problem through
platforms such as the just ended symposium.
And in receiving the
Cheque, UNICEF deputy representative Lula Marian said UNICEF is aware of the
heavy burden child marriage has on girls and the families they come from.
She said the scourge
is a recipe for inter-generation poverty and puts girls at risk of their lives.
Dr. Marian further praised
the Canadian Government for its financial support, as the funds will go towards
the development of a solid action plan for under the Ministry of Chiefs and
traditional affairs.
She said the money
will support the plan for 2014 and 2015.
Meanwhile Chiefs and
traditional affairs Deputy Minister Josephine Limata says as a member of
parliament for a rural community, she is aware of the challenges young girls
face in their families.
The Canadian Government
has kicked the ball, the challenge now remains on UNICEF and the Zambian
government together with other stakeholders to continue with the pace until a
goal is achieved.
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