Lilongwe District Labour Officer Chiletso Mbewe has singled out child abandonment and lack of support among the children as some of the factors fueling child labour in the district.
Mbewe made the sentiments Monday in an interview with Malawi News Agency after repatriating and withdrawing Major Lyton, aged 11, and Yamikani Dyless, 13, in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Chitekwele in the district from herdboy work.
“It is sad that many families, especially in the rural areas, continue bearing many children that they cannot afford to take care. This forces young children to go out and find piecework for their needs,” she said.
Mbewe then urged parents and guardians to take care of their children by among other things providing for their needs, such as food, clothing and good shelter so that they do not go out and work in hazardous places.
She then disclosed that Lilongwe District Council has already formulated by-laws that will deal with all parents and guardians that allow their young children to work in hazardous places like estates, mining sites and factories.
“The children we have repatriated and withdrawn today, walked on foot for a distance of about 80 kilometres [From T/A Chitekwele to T/A Chadza] just to find piecework. This clearly shows that these children were not taken care of. It’s quite pathetic,” she said.
One of the children, Yamikani Dyless, said since her mother got married to another man, his life has never been the same, saying he and his siblings lack a lot of things which contributed for them to stop going to school.
“Most days we sleep on an empty stomach; we don’t have shoes, clothing and other school requirements. So how can we go to school in such a situation?” he wondered.
T/A Chitekwele thanked the district labour office for coming up with by-laws which he said will assist to protect children from hard labour.
Chitekwele then warned his subjects to stop exploiting young children, saying the tendency is counterproductive.
“Send children to school so that they become productive citizens in the future and take part in developing their areas and the country at large,” he said.
By Andrew Mkonda
