By Blessings Sabiti and Yankho Kalulu

Phalombe, Jun 8, Mana:  First-Grade Magistrate Court in Phalombe hosted Ufa Primary School learners in a career talk as His Worship, Leonard Mtosa, encouraged the visiting learners to concentrate on their education to become productive and law-abiding citizens

First Grade Magistrate Mtosa made the call recently when learners travelled from Mlomba area, Phalombe to see him at Phalombe Court where he told the learners to also refrain from behaviours that would easily compromise their dreams of achieving life goals, citing child marriage as one of the factors that affect child education, health and general wellbeing.

First Grade Magistrate Mtosa, however, acknowledged increased child abuse in the district, calling for stakeholders’ collective efforts to deal with various forms of child abuse.

“We continue to receive many cases with children as victims, particularly defilement and child marriages, which often lead to school dropouts,” he added during the interface.

Ufa Primary School Head Teacher, Liston Belo, thanked Magistrate Mtosa for hosting the learners, saying the career talk also provided learners with a better understanding of child rights and responsibilities, on top of the magistrate explaining the consequences of children coming into conflict with the law.

“Learners had the opportunity to understand the law so that they could avoid coming into conflict with the law. The career talks also provided learners with awareness on various forms of child abuse, where and how to report in case they are victimised,” he added.

Belo further thanked the First Grade Magistrate for encouraging the learners to remain in school, in addition to providing them with an opportunity to observe how cases are handled in the court of law.

One of the learners, Fyness Napawa, said the career talk was inspiring and informative, such that it helped her to understand the judicial process.

She therefore urged fellow learners to concentrate on education and stay away from criminal activities and other behaviours that could affect their future.

During the career talk, Ufa School learners learnt about court proceedings, the duties of magistrates, the roles of state prosecutors, and defense lawyers.

Above all, the learners had the opportunity to seek clarification on how cases to do with child abuse are handled in a court of law.

The educational visit was organized by the school, where 62 learners heard the career talk.