By JOHN MUBAMBE
Barrick-Lumwana Mining in Kalumbila District of North-Western Province has made donations valued at nearly K6 million to schools and community organizations to promote local economic development and reduce poverty.
The donations worth K5,789,920 were made during the supply chain meeting at Royal-Solwezi Hotel on Thursday, December 7 by Barrick-Lumwana Sustainability Manager Christopher Mukala who shared that Barrick was pleased to be able to help out with funding for some local community groups in appreciation for the developmental services they were providing in the area.
Mukala announced the donation of K230,000 to Lwito Foundation for orphans, widows and vulnerable children meant to support the organization’s undertakings.
Besides donating 1200 desks worth K3,611,356 to local schools in Kalumbila, the company added a donation of science laboratory equipment worth K1,390,580 to Holy Cross private school, and Manyama and Mukumbi high schools in the district.
“As a mining company we are giving science laboratory equipment to improve the teaching of Mathematics and Science in these three rural area-based schools,” Mukula said.
Tusunge Orphanage was also a recipient of a donation of K230,000 for its project of caring for the vulnerable children in the society.
The District of Health Management in Kalumbila received K103,984 for the support of its indoor spraying programme, K182,000 for its World AIDS Day and anti-GBV campaign programmes, and K42,000 for the child health week support programme.
Mukala advised the Ministry of Health in Kalumbila District and other beneficiaries to work hard and use the donations for the intended purpose.
Kalumbila District Health Director Dr Itulawami Guillaume Isonga thanked Barrick for its active promotion of health programmes for its workers and their families.
Dr Isonga also praised the company for its well-designed malaria control programme aimed at reducing the prevalence rate of malaria among employees and their dependents.
Representing the North-Western Provincial Education Office, Moses Kafwimbi, thanked Barrick-Lumwana for providing desks and science equipment to schools.
Emmanuel Dilema, Director of Lwito Foundation, thanked Barrick for its efforts in supporting non-governmental organizations and appealed to the company to extend the same gesture to other organizations in the district.
