BUTTYSON KANDIMBA, Solwezi
A TRADITIONAL leader of Mutanda in Chief Mumena’s area in Solwezi has advised parents to stop marrying off their daughters at a tender age but to instead encourage them to concentrate on their studies.
Headman Isaac Mulevu said the Mumena Royal Establishment is concerned about the tendency of some parents to marry off their daughters early at the expense of education.
Headman Mulevu urged parents to encourage young girls to be in school and to get educated so that they can lead decent lives in future.
The traditional leader was speaking at Mutanda Primary School on Monday when Barrick Lumwana mine handed over a classroom block built under the Lumwana Development Trust Fund at a cost of K263, 207.
“If you go in that clinic which we have here in Mutanda, those young ladies giving us Panado are not our own children but someone else took them to school and they are here taking care of us when we fall sick,” Headman Mulevu said.
He also thanked Barrick Lumwana mine for building a classroom block at Mutanda Primary School.
Headman Mulevu is concerned that Mutanda primary School has dilapidated infrastructure, which is also inadequate for the number of pupils enrolled at the institution.
And Barrick Lumwana mine director of operations for global copper business unit Brian Grenbenc said in a speech read for him by sustainability manager Brenda Tambatamba that the mining company has invested heavily in Zambia because of the peace that the country has enjoyed over the last 50 years.
Mr Grenbenc said Barrick Lumwana mine wants to plough back part of its profits into communities.
Mr Grenbenc said the mining company will continue partnering with the government to enhance sustainable socio-economic development.