Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML) has handed over three staff houses for schools and a clinic at a cost of more than K700,000 in Senior Chief Musele’s community in Kalumbila district.
Kalumbila District Commissioner Robinson Kalota graced the handing over of the three housing units built at Musanda primary school, Chovwe secondary school and Wamafwa clinic.
Mr Kalota said the government would continue to provide a conducive environment to investors thereby facilitating development to the community.
“Government appreciates Kalumbila Minerals for innovative projects in supplementing government’s efforts to alleviate the shortage of houses in education and health sectors “Mr Kalota said.
Mr Kalota said he would not tolerate teachers who absconded from attending to the needs of learners and their respective schools.
He said the government spent colossal sums of money on rural hardship allowances, hence the need for teachers to reciprocate by paying attention to duty.
Kalumbila Mine General Manager Morris Rowell in a speech read for him by Public Relations Coordinator Miriam Harmony said KML attached importance to the needs of the people surrounding the mine.
Mr Rowell said the mine was aware of the various challenges and needs of the community. “Kalumbila Minerals Limited has constructed three modern staff houses at a cost of K740,378 one at Musanda primary school, while another at Chovwe secondary school and another at Wamafwa clinic all in Musele’s chiefdom,” Mr Rowell said.
District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Mutinta Mubanga said the new staff houses at Musanda and Chovwe schools, would motivate the teachers, so that they stayed in their new locations.
Ms Mubanga said Musanda primary school was one of the schools in the district with high levels of teacher and pupil absenteeism due to poor accommodation for teachers.
District Health Director Chiluba Kabalika said Wamafwa clinic had for a long time faced a staff shortage as accommodation remained a challenge and this time around everyone would be encouraged to stay in a rural setup, because of modern housing.
Senior Chief Musele said the gesture by KML was a milestone and would go a long way in improving quality services to the community.
By Rackson Shamutuku, Times of Zambia.
