Salima Police Arrests 41 Children In 'Go Back To School' Campaign

Police in Salima together with Education, Social Welfare and Labour are in a campain 'Go Back to School' a campaign which involves sweeping exercise during night hours and stopping child labour.

Salima Police Public Relations Officer Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe says the joint force on this exercise aim at enrolling back some children who dropped out of school and to stop the malpractice of employing children to work in different parts of Salima particularly selling merchandise along the roads during late hours which is becoming a new attractive enterprise of young people in the district. 

Sub Inspector Chitowe says in the night hours of 22nd April police have already netted 41 school aged children found loitering and vending in some of the trading centres in the district and that parents and employers of these children have been cautioned to stop the malpractice forthwith or the law will take its course.

He further warned that if such parents and employers or any would be perpetrator of such malpractice is found guilty shall face eight year jail sentenced.

"We really want to end the problem in our district having seen the statistics of our registered offenses. It has been observed that most of the offenses like indecent assult of children and defilement cases which are very rampant  are a result of current trend where school aged children are found selling merchandise along streets during night hours, so this is making it simple for people using drugs and alcohol to take advantage of the situation to assault these children."

"This is a main reason why at the district council level, us police together with other departments of education, social welfare and labour to embark on stopping these children from being found along streets at night and get them back to school.” he explained

“So, currently we have arrested 41 children whom we have invited their parents and their employers. We cautioned them that nenever again send children to work at night hours and that every children must be at school else shall face the law and risks eight year jail term.”

"It is our hope that the current situation in Salima is ruining future of children, so we cannot wait and look as these children future is being spoiled. So we feel that time is now especially for the school dropout kids, that they can go back to school to make their future." Said Sub Inspector Chitowe