Lusaka, 18 July, 2023 / 11:25 am (ACI Africa).
Caritas Zambia has decried the arrest of an eight-year-old boy, allegedly apprehended for fighting with a 12-year-old girl, describing the police action as “unwarranted” and in “serious breach” of the boy’s rights.
In a statement, officials of the development and humanitarian arm of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) say the arrest that saw the boy spend July 11 night at Matero Police Station in Zambia's capital city, Lusaka, was against the Children’s Code Act of 2022 that calls for protection of minors.
“The 8-year-old boy's arrest was unwarranted and a serious breach of his rights as a child,” Caritas Zambia officials say in the July 14 statement.
They add, “We strongly condemn the actions of the Zambia police officer(s) who initiated an arrest of a minor and demand a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that all erring officers face disciplinary action in order to deter other officers from taking similar actions in the future.”
“It is so disheartening to see such things happening in this age and time when the country has so many laws that have been enacted to support the protection, promotion, and fulfillment of children's rights and wellbeing,” Caritas Zambia officials say.