•FIRST Lady Esther Lungu (third from left) and Chief Chikanta could not resist the music by Southern Province-based musician One J during the witnessing of the partnership between Government, World Vision, Chief Chikanta and other partners in Kalomo District on Friday. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

By CHILA NAMAIKO –

FIRST Lady Esther Lungu has extolled World Vision Zambia (WVZ) for its commitment to uplifting the welfare of the underprivileged people, particularly those in the remotest parts of the country.
She was happy that people in rural areas could access quality education and health services owing to development programmes championed by WVZ, besides those spearheaded by the Government.
Ms Lungu said developing the country and subsequently improving the livelihood of vulnerable people required more efforts from stakeholders to partner with Government.
“WVZ, like many other organisations, is doing a commendable work to implement programmes of development in rural areas such as here in Chikanta chiefdom,” she said.
The First Lady, who was in Southern Province on a working visit, was speaking at Jonathan-Sim Secondary School in Chief Chikanta’s area of Kalomo District on Friday when she visited the school built in 2007 with WVZ’s support.
The school was named Jonathan-Sim following his death in 2005. He used to sponsor a child in the chiefdom and his wife, Kelly with other donors later built the school in honour of her husband.
WVZ recently also constructed about 10 teachers’ houses at the same school valued at K1.6 million which were handed over to the Government.
Such developmental projects, Ms Lungu said, were a shining example of WVZ delivering education for children to access education, especially that the school was in a rural area.
Ms Lungu, who addressed pupils and women’s clubs in the school hall, called on the girl-children to desist from early pregnancies and marriages, saying education was key to success.
“As pupils, don’t squander this opportunity to get education and I want you to go to universities and get higher education,” she said amid praises from pupils and women.
She donated K5,000 cash to the school choir and the same amount to the women’s clubs for expansion of their businesses.
Earlier when Ms Lungu accompanied by provincial Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba called on him, Chief Chikanta said his desire was to see the school becoming a university.
WVZ national director Mark Kelly said his organisation was committed to supplementing Government efforts to reduce poverty among rural communities.