Support for Poverty Reduction in Zambia (SPRIZ) has withdrawn 264 children from child labour in Kaoma and Nkeyema Districts of Western Province. The children were found working in tobacco farms, while others were victims of early marriages and other worst forms of child labour.…

Support for Poverty Reduction in Zambia (SPRIZ) has withdrawn 264 children from child labour in Kaoma and Nkeyema Districts of Western Province.

The children were found working in tobacco farms, while others were victims of early marriages and other worst forms of child labour.

This came to light today during the quarterly implementation and monitoring review meeting of the District Child Labour Committee (DCLC) held at Mumu Lodge in Kaoma.

SPRIZ Programme Manager Rodah Banda disclosed that with support from Japan Tobacco International (JTI), the organisation in Quarter two and Three identified 578 children engaged in child labour in tobacco-growing communities.

 Ms Banda explained that out of the 578 children identified, 264 have been withdrawn while 267 have been prevented from entering child labour.

“So far, 310 children who had dropped out of school have been reintegrated back into school,” Ms Banda said.

She said the affected communities in Kaoma include Chitwa, Mulalila and Kajejeje, while in Nkeyema the organisation is working in Chibuli, Nakuyuwa and Kakanda areas.

To strengthen prevention, SPRIZ had planned to sensitise 5,968 members of Community Child Labour Committees (CCLCs), out of which 1,817 were children, 1,504 JTI tobacco farmers and 219 JTI farm workers.

The organisation also organised a school debate which attracted 20 schools in both Nkeyema and Kaoma to raise awareness on child rights and the dangers of child labour.

Ms Banda has called for a multisectoral approach among DCLC members comprising different government departments and other partners if child labour is to be eliminated in the two tobacco-growing districts.

She further called on the Department of Labour in the districts to prosecute parents who are in the habit of engaging children in labour instead of taking them to school.

And speaking earlier, Kaoma District Assistant Labour Officer Kim Mweemba commended SPRIZ for coming on board to spearhead child protection issues.

Mr Mweemba observed that the fight against child labour is yielding positive results with SPRIZ supporting DCLC activities in the two districts.

He attributed child labour to poverty and early marriages, noting that some households expect children to fend for themselves.

“Some parents would rather let children work in tobacco fields than go to school,” Mr Mweemba said.

He reaffirmed the Labour Office’s commitment to bring perpetrators to book to serve as a warning to would-be offenders.

Meanwhile, DCLC member departments have pledged to each play a vital role in eliminating child labour in the two districts.

SPRITZ is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower communities to reduce poverty through advocacy, capacity building and service delivery.

It is the main implementing partner for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) programme in Zambia to eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in tobacco farming.