0Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date:
Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia.
The government has reiterated its unwavering commitment to advancing children’s welfare as a cornerstone of Zambia’s long term national development strategy.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2025 National Children’s Symposium in Kitwe, Kitwe District Commissioner Mr. Oncemore Ngonongo underscored the importance of integrating children’s voices into decision making frameworks, particularly in areas of planning and budgeting that directly affect their lives.
Held under the theme “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010,” the symposium brought together learners from all ten districts of Copperbelt Province, government stakeholders, UNICEF representatives and other development partners. The event aims to assess Zambia’s progress in child focused development efforts and policy implementation.
Mr. Ngonongo noted that the government views children’s rights not as acts of charity, but as legal and moral imperatives that require deliberate, inclusive, and sustainable investment. He pointed to the enactment of the Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022 as a legislative landmark, reflecting Zambia’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of every child.
He called for greater budgetary allocations towards education, healthcare, nutrition and protection services to ensure that children’s needs are fully embedded in national development plans. “For development to be inclusive and sustainable, children must be placed at the heart of national policy frameworks,” he said.
Chief Child Development Officer in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Mr. Gerald Tembo, urged children to take an active role in understanding their rights and responsibilities as enshrined in the Children’s Code Act. He reminded participants that while the law empowers children, it also upholds the central role of parental guidance.
As Zambia prepares to commemorate the Day of the African Child, the symposium serves as a vital platform to reinforce collective accountability in upholding the dignity, protection and holistic development of children across the nation.
ChildrenFirst #ChildRightsZambia #NationalDevelopment #DayOfTheAfricanChild #InvestInChildren #ZambiaYouthVoices #UNICEFinZambia #InclusivePlanning #ChildWelfareMatters #FutureBeginsWithChildren