Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Ms. Doreen Mwamba says Government will ensure strict screening of adoption agencies is done, before accreditation is issued.

She said this is not only in line with government’s policy , but also to ensure that the welfare of children at all levels is promoted and protected.

She notes that children’s issues are very sensitive, hence the need to put in place necessary measures to have their adoption processes and procedures well screened before they are adopted in the wake of child trafficking.

Ms. Mwamba was speaking today, when Child Care and Adoption Society of Zambia president, Mr Makuwa Lusaka, paid a courtesy call at her office.

The Minister said there is also need to promote and enhance parental responsibility, while Government facilitates a conducive environment for children to live and grow.

She referred to the Children’s Code Act, which provides a legal framework for children’s welfare, as a huge milestone to deal with loopholes that affect children and adoption issues in particular.

And Child Care and Adoption Society of Zambia president, Mr Makuwa Lusaka, said he is happy that the adoption process has remained tedious and long, thereby giving enough time to scrutinize the whole process in order to guarantee children’s safety.

He disclosed that from 2014, to date, his organization has only facilitated 13 adoptions, an indication of how stringent the process is and should continue to be.

He however notes that more has to be done to maintain a strict adoption process, considering that the new Act does not restrict how many adoption agencies should exist.

And Mr Lusaka thanked the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, for their support in ensuring that their objectives are well implemented, and lobbied for more support in order for them to meet logistical and other financial challenges for the promotion of children’s rights and welfare.