Human Rights Activist and Pilot, Captain Towani Chipeta, has expressed profound sorrow over the drowning of five children in Chongwe, describing the incident as a national heartbreak.
Chipeta lamented that her heart bleeds for the families who have lost their children in such a devastating and preventable tragedy.
She stressed that the pain of losing young lives is unbearable, especially when it stems from a lack of safe spaces for children to play and grow.
Chipeta shared that her love for children has always driven her advocacy, which is why she personally funded the drilling of 14 boreholes in Chasefu District in Eastern Province.
She explained that access to clean and safe water is not just a basic right but a lifeline, especially for women and children who bear the brunt of water scarcity.
Chipeta highlighted that water is essential for health, hygiene, and the dignity of every household, and its absence often forces children to seek unsafe alternatives.
She emphasised that when children die in such circumstances, it violates their right to life, survival, and development as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Chipeta urged authorities to secure all hazardous areas, including open water bodies, to prevent further loss of life.
She appealed to communities to remain vigilant and to educate children about the dangers of swimming in unprotected dams and streams.
Chipeta called on the nation to honour the memory of the five boys by taking urgent steps to protect all children across Zambia.