MORE than 18 girls, ranging from age 14 to 17 years fell pregnant last year at Mwasauka Primary School in Chipata’s Luangeni Constituency.
And Luangeni member of parliament Charles Zulu says sharing of ideas was cardinal in the development process.
During the school’s annual general meeting which was also attended by Zulu and chief Sairi on Friday, school head teacher Getrude Ng’ambi said the 18 girls stopped school after they fell pregnant.
“To be frank, in 2018, over 18 girls ranging from the ages of 14 and 17 got pregnant. Some of those who were impregnated were married by their parents. This is sad because the children are the future of this community and the country at large,” Ng’ambi said.
She said there was no future in early marriages apart from suffering.
“The only good key in life is education but small girls are being married off by parents. Nkosi Sairi, this is one of the biggest problems facing Mwasauka. As young as grade six, you will find that someone is pregnant,” Ng’ambi lamented.
She said some parents started threatening teachers when matters were reported to police.
And Zulu said he was happy that the people in the area were sharing ideas on how they could change their area.
“I am happy with good ideas and the general exchange of ideas here. Tis is how we can develop,” he said.
Zulu said he was still a member of parliament of Luangeni adding that he could only be removed by the people of Luangeni.
“Please, don’t entertain those who come here to disrupt our developmental agenda. Our focus now is development. Surely, can’t we feel ashamed that 50 years after independence we are still the same? I will continue working for you, you are the people who sent me to Parliament and you are the people who will remove me but for now I am still your MP. We still have a lot of things to do here,” said Zulu.
