Zambia: Apostolic Nuncio commissions and blesses school construction in Mpika Diocese.
Yusufu Radio- Mpika, Zambia.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi, Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone, praised the Catholic Diocese of Mpika for embarking on a journey to construct Our Lady of Victories co-education boarding secondary school.
Archbishop Gallone has been on three days visit to Mpika Diocese.
The Apostolic Nuncio was the main guest at the Groundbreaking and Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony on Friday. He blessed and commissioned the new diocesan school project.
A Catholic university faculty in every diocese
The Nuncio also reiterated his vision of every Diocese in Zambia to have a university faculty under the Zambia Catholic University. Speaking at the event, the Nuncio said the first victory a people can have is to win the battle over ignorance.
Our Lady of Victories co-education boarding secondary school is being constructed in Chief Luchembe's area, where the Diocese of Mpika has secured land for the project. The Apostolic Nuncio urged the constructor to expedite foundation works before the onset of the seasonal rains.
Eradication of child marriages
Speaking earlier, Catholic Diocese of Mpika Bishop Edwin Mwansa Mulandu said the task ahead was huge, but with prayer, material sacrifice, concerted effort and commitment, the dream of having a good boarding school for future generations would be realised. He thanked Chief Luchembe and the residents of the chiefdom for welcoming the educational facility in their area. The Bishop called on all stakeholders to be generous and help the Church complete construction of the school.
Bishop Mulandu hopes the school will contribute significantly towards eradicating child marriages, illiteracy, secularism and poverty. The school is dedicated to Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary. It will be known as "Our Lady of Victories Catholic Boarding School," he said.
The Zambian government supports initiative
Also present at the ceremony were government officials, local civic leaders, several clergy, the religious and the Catholic faithful.
Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Henry Mukungule said President Hakainde Hichilema's introduction of free education from grades 1 to 12 has significantly increased demand for school places. There was now the need for more school places and classrooms. The Permanent Secretary said that Our Lady of Victories School would thus help mitigate this challenge. He thanked the Bishop of Mpika for actualising the dream that those before him had envisioned.
Royal household elated by the project
For his part, Chief Luchembe said he was highly pleased by the initiative. He called upon his subjects to take ownership of the school project because it would improve the lives of many youths within and beyond his chiefdom.
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