In 2003, Amnesty International researchers had reports of children being recruited — in some cases, forced — to become child soldiers.  A woman named Seraphine, a mother from Kavimvira, told Amnesty International:

“When the soldiers came to my house, they said my nine-year-old boy had to join them or I would be killed.  The boy was crying.  I tried to confront them, but they were too strong.  They beat me on the face.”