Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 2nd May, 2025.
Rufunsa district, Zambia.
The Lusaka Provincial Administration has moved to tighten oversight on infrastructure delivery after raising serious concerns over the delayed completion of the Munyeta Boarding Secondary School in Rufunsa District.
The K23.7 million project, funded under the World Bank supported Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP) commenced in July 2024 and was expected to be delivered within eight months by March 2025. However, works have lagged behind schedule, prompting direct intervention from Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary (PS) Joe Kalusa.
Speaking during an onsite inspection, Eng. Kalusa expressed disappointment over the stagnation of the fully funded project, which includes five classrooms, a school hall, 12 teachers houses, a computer lab and a borehole.
“It is unacceptable that this project remains incomplete despite the availability of funds. This is a critical investment in our education sector and any further delay undermines our broader development agenda,” said Eng. Kalusa.
He stressed that the New Dawn government’s free education policy must be complemented by timely delivery of school infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Eng. Kalusa announced he would personally supervise the remaining works to ensure the project is completed without further delay.
“This school must be operational soon. We’ve identified the bottlenecks and we are addressing them. My office will now take a more hands on approach,” he added.
Lusaka Province Education Officer (PEO), Terry Changwe, echoed the sentiment, noting that the delay risks compromising government credibility in delivering on its educational commitments.
“By next academic year, this boarding school should be serving learners. We will not let the government or the community down,” Mr. Changwe said.
Rufunsa Council Chairperson Kennedy Mailoni and District Commissioner Richard Mabena, who accompanied the inspection team, both expressed dissatisfaction with the project’s pace. Mailoni emphasized that President Hakainde Hichilema considers education a priority and delays in such projects counteract the administration’s policy direction.
With renewed oversight and firm political will, the provincial administration hopes to expedite the completion of Munyeta Boarding Secondary School a key piece of infrastructure intended to expand access to quality education in Rufunsa and surrounding areas.
The Agency.