Zambia’s Weekly Boarding Facilities Praised at African Union Conference

A child marriage survivor from Mpikwa village in Chibombo District, Zambia, has praised the New Dawn Administration’s introduction of weekly boarding facilities, highlighting their positive impact on girls’ education. 

Speaking at the African Union’s First Pan-African Conference on Girls and Women Education in Africa, Rebecca Kabongwe, a grade ten pupil at Kafushi Secondary School, emphasized how these facilities encourage more girls, especially those from vulnerable and remote areas, to stay in school.

Ms. Kabongwe, who was married off at 15 after becoming pregnant but was retrieved by World Vision Zambia in 2022 through the Strong Girls Strong Zambia Campaign, shared her experience. 

She called on the government to allocate matrons to the weekly boarding facilities to prevent intrusions from boys in nearby areas.

On the conference sidelines, Chief Chamuka of the Lenje people from Chisamba District highlighted Zambia’s progress in combating child marriages. He noted that Zambia has robust policies and laws supporting girls’ education. 

He also praised the government’s introduction of free education and the increase in Constituency Development Funds, which promote access to tertiary education.

Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni people in Kasenengwa District spoke of his chiefdom’s abolition of cultural norms and traditions that hinder girls’ education and perpetuate gender-based violence. 

He emphasized that cultural transformation is possible, stating that no tradition is unchangeable.

Chieftainess Kawaza of the Chewa people from Katete District, part of the Zambian delegation, mentioned that her chiefdom now mandates the registration of all marriages to verify the ages of those intending to marry, thereby preventing child marriages.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mrs. Inutu Mupango Mwanza, First Secretary-Press & Tourism at the Zambia Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.