FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
MARCH 26 2024
New school infrastructure at Bulaya to benefit Lufwanyama education
LUFWANYAMA – Schoolchildren in Lufwanyama District have received an additional boost with the commissioning of newly built classroom blocks and other facilities at Bulaya Secondary School.
The new facilities include two 1×3 classroom blocks – one of which had been started by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the community – two teaching staff houses, and five separate flushable toilets for learners and staff. The classrooms come with all the furnishings necessary to allow for their immediate use by the students.
Speaking at the official handover of the new buildings, Copperbelt Provincial Minister Elisha Matambo said: “This construction to the development of educational infrastructure demonstrates the commitment to investing in the future of our children. Government is grateful for this partnership and looks forward to continuing the collaboration to further improve the education sector in the country, and in particular, Lufwanyama District. As we celebrate this handover today, let us reaffirm our commitment to working together towards a common goal, providing quality education for all. By leveraging partnerships and resources, we can build a brighter future for our children and our nation as a whole.”
In reference to the classroom block that the community had initially started building through the PTA and was completed with Kagem’s support, Kagem’s Head of Corporate Responsibility Lomthunzi Mbewe said: “Kagem will strive to continue giving its support in the community to ensure that the people of Lufwanyama, and the mine grow together in a collaborative manner and that Kagem continues to positively impact the people of Lufwanyama well beyond the life of the mine.
“Undertakings such as these, speak to our shared desire and vision of seeing communities uplifted through knowledge acquisition and upskilling,” she added.
Lufwanyama District Commissioner Justin Mwalikwa shared Ms Mbewe’s sentiments and urged the mine to continue building on the projects it has undertaken in the education space to enhance literacy levels in the district.
“To us as the District Administration, Kagem is a good partner we have in Lufwanyama,” The District Commissioner said in reference to the various projects the mine has done in Lufwanyama, such as the construction of a bridge linking the palaces of Chiefs Nkana and Lumpuma, the construction of a 1×3 classroom block and a computer lab at Kapila Primary School, and a state of the art vocational training centre the mine plans to construct at Chapula.
Speaking on behalf of parents and teachers at the school, District Education Board Secretary, Silvester Mukanda said: “This time around when we have free education and we have so many children coming to schools, if there is anything that we need so much now, it’s space for the learners. And so, Kagem has done such a wonderful contribution to the Ministry of Education, here in Lufwanyama. We need to ensure that as teachers, we look after these structures very well. Such a gift, will improve the performance of our learners in our schools. Because children now are going to learn in such a clean environment. When children learn in a clean environment, it helps them to understand better what they are learning.”
The school currently caters to over 180 learners and is likely to see an increase in enrolments with the added capacity.
-Ends-
CONTACT
Enquiries
Gillian Langmead
Langmead & Baker Ltd
Tel: +260 979 060705
info@langmead.com
Head office
Helena Choudhury
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420 / +44 (0)7493 237598
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
Albertina Namburete
PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0)783 325 7387
Albertina.namburete@gemfields.com
Kagem responsible sourcing highlights
Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030.
The mine has spent more than USD 3 million on community projects, including:
- Rehabilitation of the 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms from Kandole to Kafwaya village in Lufwanyama district
- Construction of the Nkana Health Centre
- Construction and equipping of a new Chapula Secondary School
- Construction of new buildings at Chapula Primary School
- Building of teachers’ accommodation at Kapila Community School
- Support for the Blessing, Kapila Green Farms,Twende and Twasanta projects
- Improvements to Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces
- Provision of USD 345,000 for scholarship programme at the School of Mines at UNZA and CBU
- Support for the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) of USD 150,000 over three years
- One-off donation of USD 70,000 to the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP)
- Kagem has renewed its partnership with both the Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA), committing to new scholarship programmes totalling USD 345,000.
- Kagem has renewed its support for the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) providing USD 250,000 over a five-year partnership.
- Pledge of USD 220,000 to support Lumpuma Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society farming initiative.
- Kagem signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Zambia to fund the construction of the Chapula Vocational Training Centre in Lufwanyama which is estimated to cost ZMW 52,750,000 (USD 2.5 million).
- Construction of classroom block & computer lab at Kapila Primary School by Kagem & Gemfields Foundation.
About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – transparency, legitimacy and integrity.
Gemfields is a world-leading responsible miner and marketer of coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly mined coloured gemstones.
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.
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Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn