A civic leader in Kabwe has thanked government for injecting over K53 million in various infrastructural development projects in his area.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe on Friday, Chililalila Ward Councillor, Edward Phiri, said government has constructed Makululu Technical Secondary School which is 95 per cent complete at the cost of over K53 million.
Mr Phiri said government has also funded the construction of Chililalila Police Post which has since been commissioned at the cost of over K250, 000.
He said another project that has been funded by the government is the construction of Chililalila Local Court at the cost of over K300, 000 that is 80 per cent complete.
The civic leader said government must be praised for fulfilling its campaign promises to the people of Kabwe and Chililalila Ward in particular of quality service provision.
He added that Makululu Technical Secondary School is already operational although minor works are remaining.
Mr Phiri disclosed that President Edgar Lungu is expected to officially commission the learning institution on a date to be announced later this year.
He observed that the construction of the school in the area has improved the number children accessing quality education.
“Before the school was constructed pupils were forced to cover long distances to nearby learning institutions such as Mukobeko, Kalonga and Kabwe Secondary Schools among others. Now learners can no longer walk long distances to access education while parents can send their children to school at a reduced cost,” he observed.
He noted that the project has also brought economic benefits to the community because there is cash flow from the teachers serving at the institution while it has also become easy to tap electricity supply for those who are building.
And Mr Phiri said the construction of Chililalila Police Post in the area has helped reduce the crime rate in the area.
He said before the commissioning of the police post people were living in fear for their lives because of the mushrooming criminal gangs that terrorised the area.
“People were forced to sleep as early as 20: 00 hours. Women were raped, while others were beaten and robbed as crime escalated,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Phiri has appealed to the government to expedite the completion of Chililalila Local Court before the infrastructure is completely run down.
Mr Phiri said the people of Chililalila and the surrounding areas have no access to the justice system and the construction of the local court in the area is a blessing in disguise.
He lamented that the people of Munga, Makululu, Kang’omba and Munyama among others have to travel 20 kilometres to Kabwe Central where there are local court services.
He, however, said because of the delay in completing the construction works the building has become a subject of vandalism by criminal-minded people.