Posted Oct 09, 2009
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Namwala, October 9-ZANIS-Government has appealed to traditional leaders in Namwala District to complement its efforts in fighting sexual and gender based violence in the District.
Officially opening a training workshop for chiefs on sexual and gender based violence today, District Commissioner Mr Wilson Siadunka said traditional rulers play a critical role in ensuring that sexual and gender based violence becomes a thing of the past.
Mr Siadunka said it was therefore, imperative for traditional rulers to be enlightened on sexual and gender based violence to be able to effectively fight the evil of the vice in their respective chiefdoms.
He explained that the increase in cases of defilement and early marriages in the District should serve as a signal for Chiefs to work closely with the government so as to eliminate such vices in the District.
“currently 14 cases Defilement and sexual abuse of children have been recorded in the District since June, 2009 and this entails that traditional leaders and government should work together to find strategies of eliminating sexual and gender violence in Namwala District,” Mr Siadunka said.
He urged Chiefs in the District to work with the newly formed District sexual and gender violence committee to fight all evils that impede the development of children in the District.
Mr Siadunka also thanked HODI the organizers of the workshop which he said had shown commitment to uplifting the living standards of the Namwala Community in a number of projects it was carrying out in the District since 2003.
Among the Chiefs who attended included Chief Muchila, Chief-elect Mukobela and representatives from Chiefs Nalubamba and Mungaila.
Ends/ZANIS/FM.