Boys rescued in Zambia after circumcision abductions

Forty-eight boys in Zambia have been rescued from an unauthorized male circumcision camp near Livingstone after parents complained of abductions.

One boy, on HIV medication, had missed his ARV drugs for two weeks. The boys, aged 10-17, faced unsanitary and dangerous conditions, with some hospitalized due to complications from circumcision.

The camp, established without permission, involved coercion and physical abuse. Authorities, led by gender ministry official Mainga Kabika, intervened, criticizing the illegal setup.

The camp's owner was reprimanded and ordered to destroy the site. Traditional circumcision rituals remain contentious due to their secretive and coercive nature.