Govt scales up gender-based violence fight in Luapula, prioritises child protection

Government has reportedly stepped up its campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Luapula Province, emphasising that protecting children was central to building safe communities and an investment-ready economy.

Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Prudence Kangwa, said the province was home to over 690,000 children under the age of 15, many of whom remain vulnerable due to high poverty levels, malnutrition, teenage pregnancies and exposure to abuse.

According to a statement issued in Mansa on Friday, Kangwa made the remarks during a two-day Provincial Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Review Meeting held on Thursday.

Kangwa noted that with over 80 percent of households living in poverty and stunting affecting nearly half of children under five, the fight against GBV and child abuse could not be separated from the province’s wider development goals.

She highlighted government’s strengthened legal and policy frameworks, including the Anti-GBV Act, the National Gender Policy of 2023, and new cyber security laws designed to protect women and children both offline and online.

“I also wish to commend our Luapula Chiefs’ Council for enforcing harmonised customary by-laws across all chiefdoms to curb violence at community level,” Kangwa said.

Mansa District Commissioner Ireen Chivweta called for collective action to end GBV, describing it as a societal problem that continues to rob girls of education and families of stability.

Meanwhile, Luapula Chiefs’ Council Chairperson Chief Dr Chisunka reaffirmed traditional leaders’ commitment to enforcing chiefdom by-laws against GBV, which have now been translated into local languages across all 39 chiefdomsto strengthen awareness, reporting and justice for survivors.

“Community platforms and traditional courts are being used to openly condemn violence and protect vulnerable groups, while urging continued collaboration with Government and cooperating partners,” he said.

The Provincial Review Meeting is expected to produce practical strategies to strengthen prevention, survivor support and child protection across Luapula Province.

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