The National Child Rights Forum (NCRF), a coalition of more than 22 organisations dedicated to the protection and promotion of child rights in Zambia, is disturbed by the tragic incident in which two children were allegedly thrown into the Ngwerere River by their father’s second
wife.
NCRF Coordinator Yusuf Ayami strongly condemned the act, describing it as a heinous violation of the Children’s Code Act, 2022 (Act No. 12 of 2022).
He cited Section 17, which protects children from maltreatment.
Ayami also highlighted Section 19, which prohibits abuse and exploitation.
He referred to Section 3, which enshrines the principle that the best interests of the child must always be paramount in all matters affecting
them.
Ayami emphasised that the President’s recent national address reaffirmed Zambia’s National Values and Principles, including morality and ethics, human dignity, unity, integrity, good governance, and sustainable development.
He stressed that acts of violence against children stand in direct contradiction to these values and erode the moral fabric of society.
The NCRF Coordinator underscored that parents, guardians, and caregivers are bound by both law and morality to safeguard the lives and wellbeing of children.
He noted that the Penal Code of Zambia (Cap. 87) provides additional grounds for prosecution, including Section 200 on murder.
Ayami called upon the Zambia Police Service to pursue the investigation with urgency, ensuring that justice is delivered and accountability upheld.
He further urged the judiciary to apply the full weight of the law to deter similar acts in the future.
Ayami appealed to community leaders, families, and civil society organisations to strengthen child safeguarding systems, promote peaceful family relations, and ensure that children grow up in environments free from violence, jealousy, and neglect.
He cautioned that failure to act decisively risks normalising violence within families and weakening public trust in Zambia’s commitment to child protection.
Ayami has reiterated that working closely with partners such as the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, Save the Children International, and other stakeholders, the coalition is dedicated to strengthen child protection frameworks and ensure that every child is safe.
He further stated that protecting children is not merely a legal obligation but a moral imperative anchored in Zambia’s national values and principles.
He urged all citizens, including parents, educators, traditional leaders, and policymakers, to unite in safeguarding the dignity, innocence, and future of Zambia’s children.