Mufulira’s Musakashi area gets first ever school

Government is constructing the first school in Mufulira’s Musakashi area in Mufulira Central Constituency at a cost of K3 million through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Newly elected Mufulira Central Member of Parliament Elijah Biyete disclosed this when he inspected…

Government is constructing the first school in Mufulira’s Musakashi area in Mufulira Central Constituency at a cost of K3 million through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Newly elected Mufulira Central Member of Parliament Elijah Biyete disclosed this when he inspected the project to assess progress.

Mr Biyete said the project comprises a 1×3 classroom block, an ablution block and a solar-powered borehole.

He said the classroom block is currently at roofing level, with the remaining works including roofing, installation of windows and doors, and other finishing works.

“Currently, the classroom block is at the roofing level and the remaining work consists of roofing, fixing windows and doors and completing final touches,” he said.

Mr Biyete expressed confidence that the project would be completed by December 2026, provided the Mufulira Municipal Council disburses the remaining contract funds to the contractor.

“Once the Mufulira Municipal Council disburses the remaining contract funds to the contractor, we are hoping it can be completed by December so that children can start using the school,” he said.

He said timely completion of the project is important to enable children in the peri-urban area to start using the facility when the 2027 academic year begins.

Mr Biyete said the project is in line with the government’s emphasis on education and economic transformation.

He added that the enactment of free education into law makes the construction of the school important in ensuring that children in the area can benefit from the policy.

Meanwhile, Kafue Ward Councillor Lydia Hikeembe said the school is urgently needed by the community.

Ms Hikeembe said children in the area currently walk up to 15 kilometres to access education in nearby Kalulushi District.

“You can imagine a child walking 15 kilometres in the rainy season and by the time he arrives at school, he is soaked and books are wet,” she said.

She said the lack of a nearby school has contributed to children dropping out by Grade Nine, with cases of teenage pregnancies also reported in the area.

Ms Hikeembe said the completion of the school would enable younger learners, particularly those in Grades One to Four, to access education closer to home.

However, she noted that more classrooms would eventually be required to meet the growing demand.

The councillor also appealed to the MP to engage the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS)’s office to facilitate the allocation of teachers to the school ahead of its completion.

Ms Hikeembe said early deployment of teachers would enable the school to open immediately once construction is completed.

She added that the community is prepared to assist incoming teachers in securing suitable rental accommodation