(LUSAKATIMES) Extended family needs to be restored

Extended family needs to be restored
Saturday, July 31, 2010, 9:31

A Social Welfare Officer in Solwezi has called for the promotion and establishment of the Ubuntu spirit or culture where the extended family should be promoted.

Mrs. Mujinga Kamalonga said that even as much as the department of social welfare had social welfare funds to give to the vulnerable, especially the orphans and widows, it did not give directly to the intended recipients.

“ We try to find out where the extended family is. We interview the orphans and try to trace where their uncles and aunties are and why they are unable to
support them ,” she said .

The Social Welfare officer underscored that the department counselled families on the importance of Ubuntu Spirit and embracing the extended family system.

She added that Social welfare was about promoting family unity saying Government alone could fight streetism but that this should start with families
who should bear the responsibility of looking after all the orphaned children.

The levels of vulnerable people and orphaned children in society have continued to increase as they have little or no support from members of available family members.

This in the end makes many of the vulnerable people to seek alternatives means of survival such as streetism, in the case of the orphaned children.

On the other hand, the spirit of Ubuntu has proved a success in most parts of Africa particularly in South Africa where the government of the day is obliged to
support the native people with various social needs such as employment and economic empowerment.