Government hails Kagem’s community infrastructure projects
President Edgar Lungu officially opens the Chapula Secondary School that was constructed by Kagem Mining.
President, Edgar Lungu has applauded Kagem Mining on the completion of the Nkana Health Centre and Chapula Secondary School projects in Lufwanyama District.
Speaking during a tour of the two sites, during which he officially opened the facilities on Saturday, October 14, 2017, President Lungu said: “We cannot talk about development in our nation in the absence of quality education and good health for all our people. However, our vision of providing quality education and health cannot be attained by government alone. This requires government forging various private sector partnerships such as the one we are witnessing today.”
The Head of State said the investment that Kagem had made to date in education and health infrastructure would complement the government’s efforts in providing quality education and health care to the Zambian people.
“What we are witnessing today is the demonstration of my government’s commitment to fulfil our manifesto of providing quality and equitable education and health to all our people…. Our commitment towards improving the education and health sectors is vital for us to attain the vision 2030 of making Zambia a nation of healthy and productive people,” said President Lungu.
The President was welcomed by Kagem Board Chairman William Nyirenda and Kagem board members, management and staff. He was accompanied by the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Christopher Yaluma, the Minister of General Education Dennis Wanchinga, Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo and other Government officials.
Nyirenda reiterated the company’s long-term commitment to its business in Zambia, and to the people of Lufwanyama, and said that by supporting projects such as the construction of the health centre and school, the mining firm was able to do its part to ensure communities could develop and share in the benefits that their natural resources provided to the nation.
“We are therefore delighted to be a partner of the government in providing infrastructure that will help in attaining the goals of providing a decent education and healthcare to the people of Lufwanyama… We believe that project of this nature will help the nation attain more rapidly the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals as set by the United Nations,” said Nyirenda.
The community of Nkana and surrounding areas in the district can look forward to improved health service delivery with the new upgraded clinic, now operational. The clinic is the first of its kind in the area and includes a male ward, female ward, isolation ward, paediatric wing, and maternity wing complete with a delivery room, postnatal ward and an incubator room for premature babies. The additional wards mean the hospital can treat in-patients, therefore helping patients to avoid travelling long distances to Kalulushi or Kitwe for treatment.
Kagem has also furnished Nkana Hospital with equipment such as beds, resuscitation machines, oxygen machines and an incinerator. The clinic has also added four staff quarters to house a doctor, clinical officer and two nurses, helping the patients receive round-the-clock care. Conveniences such as mother shelters within the fenced compound, and geysers, air-conditioners and showers have also been installed to ensure the comfort of patients.
Through the construction of Chapula Secondary School, Kagem is creating opportunities for young people to receive secondary level education, marking an important milestone in the district. The fully furnished and equipped school comprises of ten classrooms, two science laboratories, a computer room, library, home economics laboratory and needlework room, an administrative block as well as two ablution blocks. The school is well landscaped and fenced complete with electricity, water, garden and orchard.
General Education Minister, Dennis Wachinga, commended Kagem Mining for the community development projects it is operating in the local communities.
“We are very pleased with investors and various people working in our communities ploughing back into the communities. We really appreciate this kind of partnership, because the government alone cannot fulfil its mandate of providing education to all citizens,” said Mr Wachinga.
Kagem places high importance on incorporating socially responsible business practices into every one of its endeavours. The mining company is committed to enhancing the long-term sustainability of community livelihoods in Lufwanyama. Kagem’s focus areas are health, education and livelihoods projects centred around agriculture. Kagem also supports initiatives to help conserve Zambia’s famous and diverse wildlife though conservation partnerships.