A Civil Society Organisation, Justice Solidarity for Poverty Reduction Fund (JSPRP) is disbursing over eight million euros, approximately K42 billion in Zambia towards poverty reduction activities.
The money was raised from the Jubilee Campaign by the Catholic Church in Italy and
was intended to buy off Zambia’s debt from the Italian government.
But when the Italian government joined other donors in cancelling Zambia’s debt, the
Italian Catholic Episcopal decided to channel the funds to the Catholic Episcopal in
Zambia so that the money can be used for poverty reduction activities.
Ten rural districts among them Mungwi, Samfya, Isoka and Gwembe in Northern, Luapula and Southern Provinces respectively were identified to benefit from the JSPRF fund.
JSPRF Programme Coordinator Patrick Mucheleka disclosed this in Samfya today when he
paid a courtesy call on District Commissioner Sylvester Chimfwembe.
Mr Mucheleka disclosed that 35 projects worth K2.7 billion have so far been
approved out of the K3 billion that was allocated to Samfya under the JSPRF funding.
The projects funded, he said were are in various fields including education, water
and sanitation, and livestock development.
Under education, JSRPF has approved K172 million for the construction of a dormitory
at Kasaba high school, which was upgraded from basic school last year.
He said a further K166 million has also been approved for the construction of a 1×3
classroom block at Twingi high school.
The school which opened in the 80s still shares infrastructure with a basic school
because Government has not yet started building infrastructure at the institution.
And the organisation has approved a K61 million tree planting project on
Kalimankonde Island in the Bangweulu swamps in Luapula Province.
Mr Mucheleka said Kalimankonde is one of the seriously deforested areas in Samfya
district as a result of unwise tree cuttting.
He said the K61 million grant provided by JSPRF will assist the community through
the department of forestry to plant trees to replenish the lost vegetation.
