First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has embarked on upgrading four government schools at a cost of K4 million in Senior chief Musele’s area at Kalumbila, in Solwezi district.
FQM, under its wholly owned Kalumbila Minerals Limited has undertaken to improve school infrastructure at the four schools as part of the company’s social responsibility of ensuring that the local community benefits from the minerals mined in the area.
Kalumbila Minerals Limited Resettlement and Community Engagement Manager Garth Lappeman disclosed in a press statement that the upgrading of the four schools include expanding classroom space, building staff houses, installing solar power and basic amenities.
At Musele Basic School, 2 by 3 classroom blocks and three medium cost staff houses are being constructed at a cost of over K1,000 while Nkenyawuli Basic School which had a roof blown off early this year had a K54,000 facelift.
On Wanyinwa Basic School which was displaced, Kalumbila Minerals Limited has completed construction of three classroom blocks and four medium cost staff houses and delivered new furniture at a cost of over K2 million while a further K1.5 million is earmarked for similar developments in the northern resettlement area.
“These are tangible and vivid examples of how FQM is ensuring that benefits from Zambia’s mineral wealth flow back to Zambians in a significant and sustained manner. Investment in education can only spell greater prosperity for Zambia and there is a body of evidence to support that,” said Mr Lappeman.
Mr Lappeman said the ambitious programme demonstrates the company’s strong investment in the country’s education sector to meet community needs and will ensure that the upgrades in the four schools conform to the District Education Board Standards.
ZANIS
And the natives will be very excited with this…when its their gov’t that should be carrying out these refurbishments.
“Kalumbila Minerals Limited Resettlement and Community Engagement Manager Garth Lappeman”
Ideally the post that involves Resettlement/Community should be given to the nativel Zambian who understands the local landscape. But who am I to question the investor, it’s their money and they can employ anyone.
This is not even upgrading as these schools were displaced due to mining works…LT can not even get the headline right!!
@Jay Jay,
Thanks for shading that light. It’s a good thing something is being done as compensation for these communities. Nonetheless, I have a strong feeling that the displaced communities need capable legal representation here. Otherwise, they may end up being ripped off. Hoodwinked by some appeasement works done over what is really owed to them in total compensation.
There are a lot of holes in this story. Whoever is reporting rushed this story because here we are, left with a host of unanswered questions.
In real terms some people may not know where nkenyawuli basic school is. Comrades in this area both mentioned schools are really far apart and the left ones are chiwoma, ntambu, wamafwaha and the list is endless.
Now going by the headline which is saying frm upgrades schools in kalumbila I thought two or three school will now become secondary schools Kamana nehi enu antan’a. In as much as this remains appreciable ladies and gentlemen, we need a modern school I.e. one boarding and day school all compliment of fqm.
This fqm remitts taxes to our central gvt which at present is using for bye elections. And developing universities and schools in other provinces at the fortune of the northwestern soils. While other provinces are improving and developing the excited people of northwestern…
@ Bavaria
Wait my brother things will change soon. Work is being done underground massively. Media talking has never helped.
its nothing but blindfolding you. am the man on the ground and what FQM is telling you is half the truth. The mine has done nothing, apart from displacing the locals and dumping them in areas with no schools for kids, no water, no access roads and no market. The whole resettlement system was done haphazardly. The PF gvt community sector is in deep slumber, the chief is also concern with only what goes into his pockets he has since abandoned his ndunas. Its a mess all over. In fact its a time bomb here, imagine the locals going through the mining & plant construction area with bicycles & wheelbarrows dodging large earth moving machines due to lack of access roads to their resettlement areas?
can FQM name all the schools they have upgraded. bufi
And our journalists are sleeping more interested in thugs like GBM!!
What fqm has done is total rubbish. All chiefs & MPs in Nwestern are useless apart from mulusa and saifwanda. Useless cowards .can’t u emulate Western & Southern chiefs & MPs who fight for their people.
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