Media Network on Child’s Rights and Development Executive Director (MNCRD) Henry Kabwe  says Zambia has not been spared from the effects of climate change and consequent load shedding that may jeopardize development and foster poverty.

Mr Kabwe says following the drought that was experienced this year, most children especially  from vulnerable households are  likely to have their human rights violated.

In an interview with ZANIS today, Mr Kabwe  has therefore called on government and its stakeholders to ensure that children’s rights in this vain  are protected from  such as child labour and early child marriages.

He  added that parents sending children to sell on the streets instead of letting them go to school must be punished.

” We understand that things may not be easy this year, because of the drought we experienced , but that should not be used as an excuse for sending children to sell on the street, children must be in school,” Mr Kabwe said.

Mr Kabwe added that government has assured the country of social protection to mitigate the impact of climate change on vulnerable households.

He   thanked government for  the free education policy and called on  parents to utilise the opportunity to send their children to school.

“There is no excuse for not sending children to school, free education is a good opportunity that parents should be happy about to educate there children,” he said.

He also encouraged vulnerable households to take advantage of the various empowerment programmes from government aimed at improving their living standards.

He added that his organisation is sensitizing parents on the usage of Climate Change adaptive methods in agriculture and with school going children.

The MNCRD projects are in five districts namely:  Solwezi, Shang’ombo, Rufunsa, Lundazi and Lukulu where it is sensitizing the communities on climate change and adaptive methods.