Chief committed to fight child labour in Ntcheu

Senior Chief Kwataine of Ntcheu said he will work hard to save children in his area from child labour in tobacco fields.

He made the remark on Tuesday during a Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) Scream Child Labour Open Day under Arise project. During the open day, 20 primary schools from three zones in his area showcased anti-child labour activities to lure stakeholders’ actions against the vice in the district.

“Parents should be responsible to provide needs to their children.  With market leaders, fellow chiefs and law enforcers I will make sure all trading centres and tobacco fields are child labour free,” said Kwataine.

Ntcheu district labour officer Alfred Geza said failure by parents to distinguish child work from labour increases cases of the vice.

Ntcheu deputy district education manager Grace Banda commended TUM for the strategy, saying it raises awareness of child labour among stakeholders.

TUM programs coordinator Pilirani Kamaliza said the programme enhances duty bearers’ knowledge on child labour to facilitate action against the vice.

The Scream programme is implemented in 48 primary schools in Senior Chief Kwataine, Ganya and Kapalamula in the district with funding from International Labour Organisation (ILO) through Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Company. n