By JOHN SAKALA
CHINGOLA Member of Parliament Matthew Nkhuwa has commissioned the newly constructed dormitory for girls at Muchinshi Boarding School.
And Muchinshi UPND Ward Councilor Kenneth Mukong’u says if all politicians were selfless like Mr Nkhuwa, Zambia could have recorded massive national development in education and other social sectors.
Speaking when he handed over the dormitory with a bed capacity of 48 students to Ministry of Education, Mr Nkhuwa said good learning infrastructure is a motivation for more girls to be in school.
He said the plight of a girl-child should always be looked after for them to acquire education.
“During our campaign in 2016, I was shown the makeshift dormitory for girls and immediately promised to build a better dormitory once elected.” he said.
Mr Nkhuwa said he had fulfilled his promise of constructing a dormitory saying there is another dormitory for boys to house 98 learners under construction which is almost complete and is scheduled for commissioning in January 2021.
“I have delivered on my promise but I still feel we need more to be done to the school infrastructure, such as the dining hall, the kitchen, wall fence and the caretaker’s home. This, I can only do if you re-elect me in 2021,” he said.
Mr Nkhuwa who is also Minister of Energy said he is available for adoption on PF ticket and called on Muchinshi resident and Chingola constituency electorate to rally behind him when adopted for increased developmental projects in the area.
“Once adopted I will depend on Muchinshi to run with me and in turn, I will remember my promise to you and run with you again,” he said.
And Mr Mukong’u said the MP is a selfless leader with a big heart for the people of Munchinshi despite the minimal votes he got in the area.
“If all politicians were like you sir, this country could have developed far well than what it is today. You are focused, visionary, accessible, accommodating and you have stayed away from politics of hate and tribalism,” he said.
He said female pupils of Muchinshi Boarding were being abused sexually at the makeshift boarding house and some could drop out due to pregnancies.
Speaking earlier, Chingola Constituency Development Trust (CCDT) Chairperson John Zgambo said the dormitory has been constructed with modern fittings.
Mr Zgambo said that dormitory have equally been equipped with banker beds and mattresses plus independent solar powered water reticulation system.
CCDT has since named the girls’ dormitory after the late Kishorbhai Patel, the founder of Antheneon Engineering and a good friend of Mr Nkhuwa.
Antheneon was the main sponsor of the project while others were TAZAMA Pipelines and Authentix.
In receiving the dormitory on behalf of Ministry of Education, Chingola Education Board Secretary, Noah Simulunga thanked Mr Nkhuwa for the milestone development in the education sector.
And Chingola District Commissioner Agnes Tonga said she was happy because the welfare of the girl-child has been taken care of in the peri-urban area of Chingola.
Ms Tonga said Mr Nkhuwa has been a pillar and was supportive of the education sector in the mining district.
And in a vote of thanks, Margaret Mwewa, a Grade 12 pupil thanked Mr Nkhuwa for the modern dormitory.
