By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) is undertaking a K4 million ambitious drive to upgrade four government schools in Senior Chief Musele’s area in Solwezi.
The upgrades to be done at Kalumbila, 150 kilometres west of Solwezi include expanding classroom space, building staff houses, installing solar power and basic amenities.
FQM was constructing Sentinel Mine which is projected to produce 300,000mtpa of copper when it is fully operational in 2014.
Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML) Resettlement and Community Engagement
Manager Garth Lappeman said that the drive, under the auspices of KLM a wholly-owned FQM operation, extended to building houses for the teaching staff and putting in related basic amenities.
Mr Lappeman said in a statement that the upgrades in the government schools were being done in a manner that ensured seamless integration with the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) in Solwezi.
“The upgrades are significant, and have a neat and strong fit of government efforts and our CSR programmes that puts investment in education at the top of the tree,” Mr Lappeman said.
So far, KML has at Musele Basic started construction of a second 1×3 classroom block and three new medium cost staff houses at the cost of K1, 045,809 and completion was scheduled for early 2014.
Mr Lappeman said that the company had in the Southern Resettlement project completed the construction of a 1×3 classroom block and four medium cost staff houses at the cost of K1,485,000, replacing Wanyinwa Basic School that was displaced as part of the resettlement of the community.
KML had also bought and delivered new furniture for the school at the cost of K74, 426
Mr Lappeman said that a further K1, 500,000 was earmarked for similar developments in the Northern Resettlement project and works were expected to be completed early 2014.
He futher disclosed that Nkenyawuli Basic School whose roof was blown off by a storm early this year had a K54,689 facelift.
“These are tangible and vivid examples of how FQM is ensuring that benefits from Zambia’s minerals wealth flow to Zambians in a significant and sustained manner” Mr Lappeman said.
The move by the mining giant has since elated pupils, parents and teachers in the area.
