By JULIUS PHIRI –

JAPAN Tobacco International (JTI) Leaf Zambia has this year spent US$500,000 on water and sanitation, education, and health programmes in Eastern Province.
JTI managing director Robert Royle said on Thursday at the official handover of newly-constructed Mwalauka School in Chipata yesterday, that his company valued education because it was a cornerstone for future empowerment.
He said JTI had a number of social programmes aimed at improving access to water, education and maternal health in the areas where JTI Leaf Zambia has contracted tobacco farmers.
In November 2013, JTI embarked on a school construction project at Mwalauka which was on the outskirts of Chipata District.
He said the school had an enrolment of 282 pupils with its current structure and the newly-built school would be able to cater for between 500 and 600 students.
Mr Royle said his company spent $200,000 in the construction of two classroom blocks, purchase of desks and text books at the school in Chief Chinunda’s area.
He said JTI had drilled boreholes in needy areas across the province.
He said this was part of the commitment which JTI was focusing on in order to supplement Government efforts in providing for the vulnerable.
“JTI has invested US$500,000 in Eastern Province in education and health projects in 2014 alone. This includes the scholarships for nurses and doctors,” Mr Royle said.
He said JTI had also enhanced the adult education programme, which he described as successful for the adults.
He hoped that the projects would benefit a number of communities where the company was operating from.
He said his company would also construct a maternal health centre in Chipata next year like it did in Citwe area of Kaoma in Western Province.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga said the Government was happy with the project.
In a speech read for him by Chipata District Commissioner Kalunga Zulu, Dr Mulenga said it was the Government intention to focus on increasing access to quality education at all levels.
He said the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education as well as other social services cannot be achieved solely by Government alone.
Speaking at the same function, Chipata District Education Board Secretary Kezias Lungu said 95 schools were still operating in grass-thatched structures in the district.
He said JTI had done a commendable job in the provision of quality education through the construction of one by two classroom block and one by three classroom block, a teacher’s house and toilets.
He assured the community that Government would construct houses for teachers as well as send teachers to the school.