Church calls for harshest punishment for child defilers, as Zambia sees a surge in cases

The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has urged the government to ensure that perpetrators of child defilement face the harshest punishment possible under the law, including life imprisonment without parole.

This call comes in response to a disturbing rise in child abuse cases, including a recent case involving a father who allegedly sexually abused his own daughter, a young cancer patient.

CCZ General Secretary, Bishop Emmanuel Chikoya, in a statment issued on Saturday expressed outrage over the increasing incidents of child defilement in the country, describing them as a grave violation of children’s rights and a serious threat to the moral fabric of the nation.

“We have vowed to work with relevant stakeholders to strengthen child safeguarding measures and demand accountability. We say no to child defilement. We say no to the silence that allows it to continue. We say yes to justice, child protection, and a society that truly values and safeguards its children,” Chikoya said.

Read more: 10-year-old girl shares her horrific defilement experience with court

He called on the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary to strengthen legal frameworks to deter offenders and ensure swift, uncompromising justice for victims.

Chikoya also urged law enforcement agencies to expedite investigations and ensure that child defilers were prosecuted without delay.

He condemned the tendency for such cases to go unpunished due to weak enforcement, slow judicial processes, or lack of resources, emphasising that urgent reforms were needed to protect vulnerable children.

Chikoya also called for stronger community-based child protection mechanisms and urged the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to establish safe spaces where at risk children can seek help, receive psychosocial support, and report abuse without fear of victimisation.

He urged the government to enforce strict safeguarding policies in schools, churches, orphanages, and community centers.

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