World news story

UK Secretary of State to visit Zambia

Justine Greening, UK Secretary of State for International Development will visit Zambia on 9th and 10th July

From:
British High Commission Lusaka
Published
9 July 2014
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

She will deliver the keynote address at the Regional Symposium on ending Child Marriage being hosted by the First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba and Minister of Chiefs & Traditional Affairs Nkandu Luo. The symposium will highlight both the dangers of child marriage and the long term harm it does to communities.

The Secretary of State is expected to say:

“I am delighted to be visiting Zambia. The UK has supported Zambia ever since its independence, and has a very substantial cooperation programme here. I am particularly pleased to be here just three months before the fiftieth anniversary of Zambia’s independence”.

I am particularly delighted to be speaking at the symposium organised by the First Lady and Dr Luo. Child marriage is a huge problem in Zambia with nearly two in five girls married off before they are 18. I commend the Government of Zambia for being the first AU country to launch a campaign to end child marriage. It is great to see how much the movement is growing in momentum.”

The visit is part of a wider UK Government campaign to put the global spotlight on ending child marriage. As part of this the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, will host an international Girls Summit in London on the 22nd July.

During her visit the Secretary of State will also explore trade linkages between the UK and Zambia to promote economic development.

Further information:

  1. Justine Greening was appointed Secretary of State (ie UK Cabinet Minister) for International Development on 4 September 2012.

  2. She is the Conservative MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields.

  3. The Secretary of State leads the DFID ministerial team and sets the overall strategy and direction of the department. She has final authority over all DFID business.

  4. Full bibliography can be found here

  5. For further information contact the Press and Public Affairs Section on +260 211 423200 or Alfred Kapalayi on +260 955 945771

Published 9 July 2014