By Brian Wasili

Mwanza, August 23, Mana: Mwanza District Council held commemoration of Day of the African Child at Inkosi Kanduku Maseko’s where the local authority called for enhanced collaboration among child protection stakeholders to address all issues that affect children’s wellbeing in the district.

Mwanza Council, Vice Chairperson Kayisi Chimbalanga who was guest of honour at Kanjedza Primary School ground said there was need to deal with all factors that contribute to children’s failure to complete education citing forced marriages and unconducive learning environment and lack of parental support.

Chimbalanga also bemoaned tendency of some parents that deny children with disabilities opportunity to education and he observed that some parents confine children with disabilities in in doors at the expense of their right to education, denying them early childhood development in the process.

Mwanza District Social Welfare Officer, Mary Msindwa told Malawi News Agency that defilement, child marriage and pregnancies, lack of parental care and lack of wheel chairs and other assistive devices for children with disabilities were some of the factors that affect child wellbeing in the district.

“We work in collaboration with partners such as the Malawi Police Service, judiciary, civil society organizations and Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA) to address these challenges. MACODA provides us with heel wheelchairs to ease mobility challenges of children with disabilities,” she added.

One of the learners that attended the Day of African Child commemoration, Victoria Chiotcha told Mana that the event was relevant because it called together various stakeholders to reflect on issues that affect children in district citing child neglect and forced marriages as some of stumbling blocks to child education.

“Through various messages about child care and protection provided here some parents will start taking care of their children including those with disabilities,” she added.

Mwanza District Council and partners commemorated the 2024 Day of the African Child under the theme: Promoting Quality and Inclusive Education for All Children in Malawi, Act Now.

Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), World Vision Malawi, Find Your Feet, Evidence Action, Community Action for Sustainable Development Organization (CASDO), Modern Stationary and Mwanza Civil Society Organizations network were some of the partners that supported the 2024 Day of the African Child commemoration in Mwanza.