A Chinese mining firm has announced plans to build an ultra-modern multi-million Kwacha skills training school to carter for the underprivileged in society in honour of late Betty Kaunda, the wife of first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda.
Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation Chairman Ling Zao made this announcement when he signed documentation pertaining to the establishment of the school which would serve children from poor households as well as academically gifted pupils at the office of Dr Kaunda in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Ling whose company has been operating in Zambia for the last three years also announced the establishment of a foundation that would sponsor the education of the under privileged and academically gifted pupils at the school.
Mr Ling who could not disclose the cost of the initiative said the role that Mama Betty and Dr Kaunda played in building a firm foundation for strong relations between Zambia and China motivated him to build the school as a way of honouring the fallen freedom fighter.
He further said although his decision was part of his company’s community social responsibility, he also wanted to send a message that Zambia and China enjoy good relations.
He said Dr Kaunda and Mama Betty were two of the most respected people in China and even though Mama Betty died, many Chinese knew that she had made a tremendous contribution in helping Dr Kaunda to take care of Zambia.
He said he was hopeful that the school would sustain Mama Betty’s love for Zambia.
He appealed to the people of Zambia to remember Mama Betty for the contribution she made to the country she loved and said he was grateful that even in his 80s, Dr Kaunda was still helping to take care of Zambia.
Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation General Manager Eric Shen said
his company would provide building materials for the construction of
the school from start to finish.
He said the company would also provide resources for establishing a foundation that would sponsor under privileged pupils and support the school’s daily operations as well as facilitate introduction of exchange programmes between the school and Chinese schools.
Mr Shen said Mr Ling had decided to build Mama Betty Skills Training School because each time he traveled to Zambia, he always asked his staff in Zambia about how he could find time to help the local community in particular and Zambia in general.
He said Mr Ling came up with the idea to build the Mama Betty Skills Training School that would provide education which is the biggest motivation for the national development that Dr Kaunda and Mama Betty had sacrificed and worked hard for.
Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation is working with other Chinese company’s one of which is Minmetals Real Estate Company which was represented at the function by Deputy General Manager Yang Datong.
Speaking of behalf of Dr Kaunda, his daughter Cheswa Silwizya said her father who had traveled outside the country had expressed happiness that Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation has decided to donate the gift of a skills training school in memory of Mama Betty.
She said Mama Betty was a teacher by profession who looked after her children and struggled to send them to school in the absence of Dr Kaunda at the height of the independence struggle.
She said building a school in memory of Mama Betty was a great way to remember her for the passion she had for children.
We appreciate the role mama Betty play in the country and the initiative to honour is welcome.
When are we going to name any public place in honour of Chiluba? Most people will be shocked that the corruption cases against chiluba were actually a deal between him and Mwanawasa to make him (mwanawasa) appear to be fighting corruption. This made Mwanawasa popular with the donor community.
Had Mwanawasa not passed away, he was going to announce a general pardon for Chiluba which was part of the deal.
Lets honour Chiluba as well, he did so many good things for the country too.
Could you please list those good things?
– rushing to privatize businesses/industries without proper study/analysis
– sale of all manufacturing industries at almost nothing
– sale of all mines at almost nothing
– sale of council houses at almost nothing
– continue here …
Why do you think Chiluba should be honoured? Thievs do not deserve to be honoured!
Some of this information you get from drinking places will land you in prison. Who told you that nonsense? Don’t bring rumours online.
Fiction
and it will be belt in chinsala were she came from while mining activities are done at the other far end of the country
thats a good development
Sisi, where do you get your facts from?
Me I think that we should name the sewerage works in honour of Chiluba… What positive contributions did this Kaponya do?
Thats a very noble thing from the Chinese for honouring Mama Betty Kaunda. hope other Chinese will follow the same . K.K was one of the first African leader to do business with China while the rest of African leaders were busy doing business with Europe. The Chinese should honour K.K. by building a new KK international airport or a new modern hospital in Lusaka to replace the old UTH while he is still alive.
This is a good development.
THANKS YOU CHINESE FRIENDS.
Mama Betty Kaunda deserves that honour
HIGH TIME WE HAD SUCH INSTITUTIONS. WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED YOUNG ZAMBIANS THAT FAIL TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS DUE TO LACK OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT OR SCHOLARSHIPS. LET OTHERS ALSO Emulate. MAKES ME WONDER WHAT FOREIGN BANKS LIKE BARCLAYS, STANDARD CHARTED HAVE DONE FOR ZAMBIA. NOT EVEN A STADIUM, WHEN THEY RIP OFF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COUNTRY. THEIR INTERESTS RATES ARE SO HIGH WHICH THEY CAN NOT DO IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. WELL DONE CHINESE FRIENDS AND TO HELL COLONIAL COMPANIES LIKE SELFISH BANKS.
She deserves it 110%!!
Iwe fulunyemba/patricia.. Chiluba didn’t sell council houses to foreigners he sold them to poor Zambians whom the council used to harrase with envictions.And when UNIP subjected you to vote for K.K or Frog(Chula)Chiluba had to liberate you from that.When you were queuing for mealie meal,sugar,cooking oil and other essential commodities as well as boarding mini buses through the window Chiluba changed that for the better.So some of these reasons may just be why M.C Sata campaigned for his third term of office.Of course every Govt has it’s own flaws even the current one we shall yet to hear there mistakes when they come out of power so we should learn to give credit were it’s due.
Di Canio wembushiwe Chiluba deserves to be honored because the current success of Zambia came from the fouundation he led pushi.
YES FTJ deserves to honored, he is human he made his mistakes…..but the Good he did was more….
The usual knee jerk reaction! As much as this sounds like a thoughtful gesture, ask yourselves why the Chinese firm thinks its a worthwhile cause. This is an endeavor we as Zambians can do for ourselves. Reflect on this Bob Marley quote “Never make a politician (aaa-aaah) grant you a favor;
(doo-doo-doo-doo)
They will always want (aaa-aaah) to control you forever, eh!
(forever, forever)”