Marauding street kids resurface

THE rapid increase in the number of street kids in Kitwe has continued to raise security concerns among residents.

There has been a notable increase in the number of the street kids in the Central Business District (CBD) despite efforts to relocate them.

As a result, this has created a security problem in the city as the street kids were now getting unruly and harassing innocent residents.

The residents have since called on Government to clean up the streets of Kitwe, stating that if left unchecked, the problem was likely to degenerate into chaos.

"We have now reached a stage where we can't move freely in the CBD because these kids attack and harass us regardless of time of the day.

"The bad part that we now need to worry about is that we have also noticed a few street adults that have joined and contributed to the increasing numbers of these children," one of the the residents, Bwalya Mumba said.

Ms Mumba complained that the kids had become so fearless that they attacked people in full view of other people and in also in broad day light.

She said that the development needed quick action.

Another resident, Milton Mwamba, expressed disappointment that relevant authorities had failed to control the situation.

Mr Mwamba said that there was need for the authorities to make follow ups when the kids are removed from the streets to ensure that they did not get back on the streets after being relocated.

Recently, street kids were relocated to a foster home but abandoned the place because they were not being given enough food.

The other reason street kids prefer to be in the CBD is that they are used to begging money and food and are also hooked to drugs which they sniff from bottles.