…as he donates building materials towards construction of a lab
By Francis Chipalo
It was all joy and jubilation from learners, parents, teachers as well as members of the community in Mutandalike, Choma when 2026 parliamentary hopeful, Joe Muchindu visited the school on Wednesday.
Pupils and parents sung songs of praise in celebrating Muchindu’s quick response to an appeal made by Mutandalike community on behalf of the school through their head teacher Sanford Chiinya.
Chiinya wrote on behalf of the school, requesting for assistance from Muchindu for a contribution of building materials for the construction of a school laboratory.
The head teacher explained that Mutandalike primary was last year reduced to only offering classes from lower primary upto grade 7 due to lack of a laboratory as per current required standards in line with the revised school curriculum.
The school was previously going upto grade 9 before being scrapped off. Chiinya disclosed that the lack of a laboratory meant that pupils progressing to higher grades had to look for other schools elsewhere, and that these were not easily accessible.
Following this concern, and on behalf of the school, Chiinya reached out to Muchindu, whom he said did not hesitate, but responded positively within a shortest period of time, and donated building materials, among them, pockets of cement for the much – needed school laboratory.
“We decided to call the community and village leaders where our learners come from to come and thank you (Muchindu) for responding positively and without hesitation to our plea for help,” Chiinya added.
And speaking during the handover ceremony that was also witnessed by over 40 village headmen/women from the affected surrounding communities, Muchindu disclosed that his desire was to transform Mutandalike from a primary to a secondary school.
This, he said, would enable learners easily access education upto grade 12, and thereby, addressing issues of teenage pregnancies mainly attributed to lack of secondary schools within the community.
Muchindu vowed to lobby for an upgrade of Mutandalike and other schools in rural Choma to be transformed into secondary (boarding) schools, saying this was possible with a determined and focused leadership, including from the office of member of parliament.
Muchindu explained that the gesture is part of his contribution in supplementing government’s effort in providing education to all.
He commended President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND administration for actualisation the free education policy, but was quick to mention that government alone could not deliver.
“Hence, my unending contribution and support to some of these things so that our children do not get to remain behind, but are able to access an education through facilities such as school laboratories,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mutandalike village headman who spoke on behalf other traditional leaders, praised Muchindu for the gesture, and further called on his colleagues to rally behind him (Muchindu) in his quest for public office.
Learners at the school also gave thanks to Muchindu for the donation of building materials, words echoed by their parents and other members of the community.
Meanwhile, an Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) official took advantage of the meeting to raise awareness on voter education amidst ongoing delimitation exercise.
Ends/pics/videos
