Hunger forces Chipata’s Mbilisao school to close

Hunger forces Chipata’s Mbilisao school to close
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Thursday, November 13, 2008 8:34:25 AM

NYIMBA MMD member of parliament Forrie Tembo yesterday disclosed that Mbilisao Basic School in Chief Lwembe's area has been closed due to the hunger situation in the area. In an interview, Tembo said the school was closed in September because the children had abandoned classes due to hunger.

"The hunger situation in Mbilisao and Chikwasha areas is bad. I was there during the campaigns. As you know these areas are far from Nyimba and you have to first pass through Lusaka and Mkushi to reach there. Parents are busy looking for food," Tembo said.

He said the school would be opened as soon as the hunger situation was sorted out.

"The other reason why the school has been closed is that the untrained teachers have stopped teaching because they are not being paid. But I hope this problem will be sorted out. I’m also disappointed with the Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS). They had come up with the programme to distribute food in the valley areas but now they left out Mbilisao area," Tembo said.

He said last time, there was a proposal by the office of the Vice-President to distribute 400 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize but that it did not work out.

And Tembo said Nyimba residents were happy that Barclays embarked on a programme to install an ATM machine in the district.

"Barclays has already started installing the machine and they will be finishing very soon and this will prevent people from travelling 75 kilometres to Petauke for salaries," said Tembo.