President Hakainde Hichilema has called for equal attention to be given to the boy child, stating that neglecting boys could lead to societal challenges such as increased crime and gender based violence (GBV).
Speaking at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre today, President Hichilema said the welfare of boys should not be overlooked in efforts to address GBV.
“In our homes, we should not ignore the boy child if you want to fight GBV instigated by men and boys. We must bring the boy child in the equation [otherwise] we will have them in the streets, and they will conduct more rapes,” President Hichilema said.
“They will assault their partners because they will have lost the opportunities to be given the values that we want them to have.”
The President urged families, women’s groups, civil society organisations and the nation at large to include boys in their initiatives to create a society of decent children.
He further highlighted the importance of parental guidance, particularly from fathers, in shaping boys into responsible and respectful men.
“Let’s raise our children properly. Without decency in the homes, you can’t change your children when they are 20, it’s too late. GBV is a crime whether physically or online.”
The President also acknowledged that boys and men are also victims of GBV and urged society to provide them with care and support.
“We need a society that abhors violence. You can support HH from the political angle without abusing women in the markets. Society must be fair to all. Let’s not tolerate women committing crimes against men and men committing crimes against women,” he added.
He called for a renewed commitment to ending violence against women and girls, urging Zambians to create a society where everyone feels safe and free from harm.
And the newly appointed NGOCC Chairperson Beauty Katebe praised government for revising the Anti-GBV Act to improve justice for victims.
Katebe further encouraged survivors to speak out against violence and reclaim their power by standing up for themselves.
“Let’s stand up for ourselves and boldly speak out against violence,” she urged.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence runs from November 25 to December 10 under the theme “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
The campaign serves as a global call to action, renewing the fight against violence and advocating for a safer and more equitable society.
Picture credit: The Falcon
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 25, 2025
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