Airtel donates to Lukalanya High School

Airtel Zambia has today donated two computers and commissioned a one (1) by two (2) classroom block at Lukalanya High school in Mongu at a cost of over KR240,000.

Airtel Zonal Business Manager Ernest Mulenga said Airtel is very passionate about education especially in areas it operates in.

Mr Mulenga said quality education was key in securing socio economic development of the country.

Speaking in Mongu today during the donation, Mr Mulenga affirmed that his company has invested a lot in education with more than 400 schools benefiting countrywide from its donations.

He said there is need to create an enabling learning environment in the education sector through the provision of information communications technologies (ICTs) and development of infrastructure.

Mr Mulenga stated that the mobile company will continue to support rural schools through its social corporate responsibility and also its bid to collaborate with government in the sector.

And Mr Mulenga disclosed that Airtel has donated over KR260,000 towards this year’s Kuomboka ceremony of the Lozi people of Zambia taking place tomorrow the 20^th of April, 2013.

He said his company places a lot of importance to traditional ceremonies in Zambia.

And Government has commended the role of the private sector in the provision of quality education in the country.

Ministry of Education Senior Education Standards Officer (SESO) in Mongu Ilitombi Lisimba said the Patriotic Front (PF) government  under the leadership of his Excellecy Michael Sata is happy with the contribution of Airtel in the education sector.

Ms Lisimba said the mobile network is among the few companies in the private sector who have left the urban areas and channelled its investment towards rural areas.

She said while most companies were concentrating on doing their businesses along the line of rail, Airtel had instead decided to go into rural areas to complement government’s efforts in providing quality education for all citizens of Zambia.

She called on cooperating partners and stakeholders to come on board and assist government in the education saying a collective effort is what is required to improve the standards of education in the country, especially in rural areas.

Meanwhile, Lukalanya Head Teacher Ikabongo Walipitila has thanked Airtel for the donation saying the gesture is a typical example of good social responsibility by the mobile company.

Mr Walipitila said the mobile network has donated 200 mattresses, 200 pillows, 200 blankets,100 bunker beds, and 40 desks to the school from the time it was formerly known as ZAIN.

He said this was good for not only the school but for government as well as it cannot do it alone.

Mr Walipitila was however quick to mention that the school still faced a lot of challenges among them lack of accommodation, kitchen, standard dormitories, laboratory, library, mobile network and dilapidated infrastructure.

He said the school also lacks power and is currently using one solar panel of which is not enough to meet all its electricity needs.