FIRST Lady Esther Lungu says there is need for all stakeholders to take action to end gender- based violence (GBV) as it has undermined the enhancement of education for the girl child in the country.

Mrs Lungu said GBV is one of the greatest threats to national development and urged all stakeholders to join the first against the vice.
The First Lady said this in Nyimba district in Eastern Province on Thursday when she commissioned the one-by- three classroom block built by Nyimba Investments also known as Nkhalamu Safaris.
Mrs Lungu challenged pupils at the school to take interest in mathematics and science subjects as the two subjects are at the core of development.
“The construction of a one- by-three classroom block at Simalama School by Nyimba Investments would go a long way in improving the quality of education at the school. Early child marriages should come to an end,” she said.
The newly-constructed classroom block will accommodate 120 to 150 students.
Speaking earlier, Eastern Province permanent secretary Chanda Kasolo said the people of Eastern Province were grateful for the commitment and hard work of the First Lady in the fight against poverty especially among people in rural areas.
And Nyimba Investments representative Sukaina Patel hoped the private sector would continue collaborating with Government and the local communities in achieving quality education for every child in Zambia.
Ms Patel said Nkhalamu Safaris financed the construction works while their partners in the United Kingdom would provide furniture with government overseeing the running of the school.
She pledged her organisation’s continued co-operation with the Esther Lungu Foundation in the years to come in order to achieve and promote education and women empowerment.
Senior Chief Luembe appealed for secondary schools to be constructed in the area in order for education to continue adding that secondary schools were very far from the chiefdom.
Earlier, the First Lady paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Luembe at his palace. – ZANIS