“This is not just a social issue: it is a moral and spiritual crisis. We call on the nation to stand together in protecting the vulnerable and ensuring justice prevails.”
Protesters took to the streets of Zambia’s capital last weekend, demanding urgent action over a surge in sexual violence against children. Among those joining the demonstration was the Rt Revd Emmanuel Chikoya, General Secretary of the Council of Churches. He condemned the abuse, stating, “This is not just a social issue: it is a moral and spiritual crisis,” and called on the nation to unite in protecting the vulnerable.
Reports of horrific cases, such as fathers raping their own daughters, have sparked outrage. One case involved a father who raped his seven-year-old daughter during cancer treatment, while another saw a father infecting his six-year-old with a sexually transmitted infection.
Child-focused NGOs, including Save the Children and UNICEF, have decried the rise in abuse. UNICEF described the situation as a “national crisis,” with one in four girls and one in six boys affected by sexual violence by age 18. Calls for stricter penalties and fast-track courts are growing.