Traditions are hard to beat

Many parts of Zambian life are influenced by tradition. In some cases, however, Zambian traditions are in direct violation of women and children’s rights.

Kabange had a baby when she was 12 years old. For that, she was kicked out of home and left to fend for herself.

When Mansa District Women’s Development Association (MDWDA) carry out their sensitisation workshops in the rural areas of Mansa, they are often confronted with examples of how women and children, treated according to tradition, have had their rights violated. One such example is the story of Kabange.

During one of their sensitisation meetings, MDWDA was made aware of the 14 year old girl, Kabange, who had been chased away from home by her mother and stepfather after getting pregnant two years ago. “We found her and her 2 year old girl in a small deserted hut, with no one looking after them”, says Elizabeth Mushili from MDWDA, “all she had was a small pot for cooking, a mosquito net and a blanket to keep herself and her baby warm at night”.

Kabange was impregnated by a fellow student, whom she was in a relationship with, when she was in the 6th grade. The boy was 16 at the time. The mother and stepfather, who were very unsatisfied with the situation and the behaviour of their daughter, told her that if she was old enough to get pregnant and have a child, she was old enough to take care of herself. And then they chased her away and left her to care for herself and daughter.

According to Zambian customs the responsibility of a child lies with the woman’s family. The father of the child therefore remained in school. The mother and stepfather of Kabange went to the boy’s family for compensation, but were unsuccessful.

MDWDA found Kabange in this hut, where she was trying to care for her baby.

Since being chased away from home by her family Kabange has been managing on her own, finding small pieces of work to provide food for herself and her daughter. However, this has not been an easy task to manage for the young girl.

After learning about Kabange’s situation, MDWDA went to her family to try to convince them that they had made the wrong choice, when chasing their daughter and unborn grandchild away from their home. They explained to them that what they had done, according to Zambian law, was illegal and that they could be punished for their actions, as they violated the children’s rights charter. They advised the family to take their daughter back and care for her, to get her back to school and to hold the father and his family responsible.

After long discussions the parents agreed and accepted Kabange and their granddaughter back into their home.

Paralegal officers now monitor the case every month, seeing to it that the family takes care of their daughter and grandchild. At least physically, then, they are being taken care of, as they are being provided with food and shelter. However, as Elizabeth Mushili explains: “It is difficult to say whether the family has accepted them emotionally as well”. As to Kabange’s future, Elizabeth Mushili says: “She will probably remarry. However it is likely that she will have to leave her child with her parents”.

Unfortunately, Kabange’s case is not unique. It is not rarely seen, that the rights of women and children, treated according to tradition, are violated. This, however they are often not aware of, which is why, as Elizabeth Mushili says: “Sensitization of women and youth is important, because otherwise they will grow up to do as their mothers do”.