Government has handed over the recently rehabilitated 1×2 Classroom Block at Kapangala Primary School whose roof was blown off in December last year following a hailstorm.
The incomplete facility whose initial works started in 2019 was rehabilitated and completed using allocation under the 2024 CDF Disaster Component following the damage caused after the hailstorm.
Lumezi District Commissioner Lufeyo Ngoma who spoke on the sidelines of the handover ceremony in Zokwe said he is grateful to President Hakainde Hichilema for providing this development through CDF and remains hopeful that similar works would be spread across every Chiefdom in the Constituency.
Mr. Ngoma has also cautioned community members to realize that the infrastructure is not for the government but their property and thus, should take interest to protect it against any possible vandalism.
“It should not be turned into a church. This is a school facility and I pray that the community protects it so that generations to come can have an opportunity to use it. The New Dawn Government means well and this is what we mean taking development to every part of the Constituency” Mr. Ngoma said.
And Mr. Ngoma commended the contractor for having completed the works within 6 weeks against the contract duration of 16 weeks given by the Local Authority.
“I would like to remind community members that this building has been done at more than K276,000. This is a property not for the government but it is their property and they should take interest to protect it from any possible vandalism” he said.
Meanwhile, Lumezi Town Council Chairperson Oliver Mwale said after the roof was blown off last year, learners had challenges concerning shortage of classroom space because the other two existing Classroom Blocks are in a dilapidated state.
Mr. Mwale said through the enhanced CDF, government was able to rehabilitate the blown off school infrastructure and that he was happy that the facility has been handed over to the community for use.
“We have handed over the facility so that pupils can begin to use it. I would like to urge community members to guard the facility jealously and should not vandalize it” Mr. Mwale said in a separate interview.
And Lumezi District Education Board Secretary Misozi Mwenya said the department of education is grateful for the rehabilitation of the Classroom Block.
Ms. Mwenya said Kapangala Primary School which was opened in 1966 has not had infrastructure development and therefore, the completion of the 1×2 Classroom Block will increase space for the over 450 pupils who did not have adequate learning space.
“We promise to guard the building jealously and maintain its standards the way it has been given to us. We have 54 surrounding villages providing the clientele for the school. We thank government for this gesture” Ms. Mwenya said.
And in giving a vote of thanks on behalf of other pupils, Jacob Nkhata thanked government for the work to complete the 1×2 Classroom Block which he said has changed the face of Kapangala Primary School.
Lumezi Town Council using the CDF Disaster Component has since 2022 completed three community projects namely; Rehabilitation of Katete bridge, refurbishment of the damaged mortuary at Lumezi Mission Hospital and rehabilitation of a damaged school facility at Kapangala Primary School.
Issued by;
Irvin Muyumbwa
Assistant Public Relations Officer
LUMEZI TOWN COUNCIL
Email: lumezitowncouncil@gmail.com
