ILO vows to end child labour in Mzimba

International Labour Organisation (ILO) national programmes coordinator Misheck Chirwa says they will continue to fund and scale up interventions to end child labour in Mzimba District.

He said this in Mzimba on Friday when they distributed 26 bicycles to six community child labour protection committees from Traditional Authority (T/A) Khosolo in the district.

Chirwa said the bicycles will ease mobility challenges for volunteers as they do their work.

He said: “This intervention is part of the Accelerating Action in the Elimination of Child Labour Programme which we have been implementing in Mzimba which seeks to eliminate child labour in the district.

“So, we have distributed bicycles to community child labour committees because we want them to travel easily in the communities when they conduct child labour awareness campaigns and following up on cases.”

Northern Region labour officer Kalani Malema said there is need for collective collaboration among stakeholders to ensure child labour is eliminated and children return to school.

He said: “Let me, therefore, applaud ILO for funding these interventions in Mzimba because they are helping in raising awareness and fighting child labour.

“As a ministry, we are working with different stakeholders, including traditional leaders and parents on the need to ensure children are not involved in child labour.”

Dunduzu Child Labour Protection Committee secretary Esnart Banda commended ILO for the bicycles.

“Transport was a major problem as you are aware Mzimba is big and communities are located far apart,” she said.

ILO donated 100 bicycles and 300 reflector vests to volunteers in Mulanje, Thyolo, Mzimba, Chitipa and Ntchisi districts.

The organisation is implementing the project in Mzimba in partnership with different partners with funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands.