Zambia School Denies Boy Admission over Dreadlocks

A 13-year-old Zambian boy has so far spent four weeks at home after being denied admission into a government school for having dreadlocks. Dreadlocks

Chisanga Mubanga had reported to join Kasama boys secondary school, in the northern province, but administrators told him to cut his hair first, an order his father, a Rastafarian, refused to comply with.

Mubanga attended a private school in his lower grades and did not face any demand to cut his dreadlocks, but this changed when he wanted to join a government institution.

Joel Kamoko, the ministry of education permanent secretary, said that he backed the school’s decision.

“A learner in any school is expected to conform to the prescribed school rules that include being clean and keeping hair short or shaven for boys and smart for both girls and boys,” Kamoko said.

“Dreadlocks are not an accepted hair style in any government school because it defies the general guidance given from which individual schools draw their specifics,” he added.

However, Maiko Zulu, a civil rights activist and a Rastafarian, complained about the treatment of Chisanga Mubanga.

He said there is no law in Zambia that requires children with dreadlocks to cut their hair as a condition to school admission.

“We have children of other faiths including Muslims in some schools while Rastafarians with dreadlocks are not only denied an opportunity to get an education but also being denied access to obtain national identity documents like national registration cards, passports and drivers’ licenses until they cut their hair.”

Mr Mubanga said he’s determined to get justice for his son.