Mpherembe lauds K1.3bn initiative
Senior Chief Mpherembe of Mzimba has commended the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia Church and Society Programme for a K1.3billion economic empowerment programme that promotes children’s rights.
Speaking during a child partner training at Zaro Primary School in the district, Mpherembe said people in Mzimba West now understands the importance of keeping children in school and dangers of child marriages.
“With the coming of the project, cases of child marriages have gone down. Parents no longer force children into marriages,” he said
Mpherembe hailed the synod for sensitising the rural community to laws, policies and international legal instruments that protect children’s rights.
The faith-based organisation supports mobile courts to try child abuse cases swiftly. It has also planted six maize mills and trained farmers in farming methods that increase yield.
“Sometimes people force children into marriage or fail to send them to school because of poverty. With maize mills the communities generate income and support children. People no longer walk distances to maize mills. They save time to concentrate on other activities to support their children,” he said.
CCAP Synod of Livingstonia deputy general secretary, the Reverend Joseph Mwale said the project would not have been easy without community involvement.
Church and Society programes director Moses Mkandawire said the synod was worried with low education standards and child abuse cases. He asked communities to sustain the child-centres initiatives when it phases out.
