769 teenage pregnancies in Mufulira in 3 months: HANZ calls for urgent national action

Date: Saturday 11th April 2026 Press Statement

Contact: Hope Affirmation Network Zambia

769 teenage pregnancies in Mufulira in 3 months: HANZ calls for urgent national action

Lusaka, Zambia — Hope Affirmation Network Zambia (HANZ) is alarmed by fresh reports that teenage pregnancies continue to rise at a disturbing pace.

According to Mafken FM Zambia, Mufulira District alone recorded 769 cases between January and March 2026, up from 694 cases during the same period last year.

Mufulira District Health Director Dr. Abel Hamoonga has rightly called the trend “concerning”_ and cited peer pressure, limited access to reproductive health services, and lifestyle influences as key drivers.

This is not just Mufulira’s crisis — it is Zambia’s crisis. Every girl who becomes a mother too soon is a dream interrupted. Teenage pregnancy exposes our daughters to health risks, forces them out of school, and locks families into cycles of poverty.

We commend His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema and the Government* for the transformative Free Education Policy. This progressive step has returned thousands of vulnerable children to class. It is a foundation of hope we must now protect.

HANZ therefore urges:

1. Government to act with urgency through coordinated action by the Ministries of Education, Health, Youth, and Community Development. There is urgent need to reverse these numbers before year-end. Scale up youth-friendly health services and age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education in all districts.

2. Law enforcement to strictly apply laws protecting girls from defilement, child marriage, and exploitation.

3. Communities, parents, churches, and traditional leaders to leverage free education. With school fees removed, there is no excuse. Let us ensure _every girl in Mufulira and across Zambia is in school, stays in school, and completes school_. Education is the most effective vaccine against teenage pregnancy.

4. Increased investment in mentorship, safe spaces, and life skills so girls and boys alike have aspirations bigger than early parenthood.

The time to act is now . Before the hopes, dreams and future of more girls go to waste.

Issued by:

Nakiwe Simpungwe

Executive Director

Hope Affirmation Network Zambia.

Restoring Hope, Affirming Dignity

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