Lunzua Primary School is one of the oldest schools in Zambia with historic sensations worth supporting. It is one of the iconic schools in Mbala district with visionary leadership dedicated to come out of the shadow of grant dependance syndrome.
The historical School sits on the source of the Lunzua River and it was named after it. It is located 22km West of Mbala boma and 3km from the Mbala - Nakonde road, next to Mbala Farmers Training Institute (FTC).
Lunzua River starts with a plain and water is assumed to be passing under ground which resurfaces in several points. The river that struggles at its beginning grows as it crosses Mbala - Kasama road and forms the Lunzua falls before feeding into lake Tanganyika, the deepest lake in Africa. Starting small but always measured by the destination. Besides being a tourist attraction, the falls has been generating 11KV hydro electricity, making Mbala to have electricity the whole year round even when some parts of Zambia were heavily struck with load shedding years back. Despite the river not having distinguished inflow of streams to prevent it from drying, its natural and steady supply of water from underground has kept the falls running and sounding all year round. We can be running with goodness despite the challenges. Consequently, the government has doubled the KV to 23 and now connected to the national grid. Joy comes in the morning.
At the source of this river, Lunzua Primary School is built. The School has enough lessons to draw from nature around it especially the river. Established in 1938 with grass thatched structures, it pushed it's self to some modern infrastructure by then in 1952. The School could have received of course blessings and inspiration from the prominent missionaries in the likes of Robert Moffat who dwelt there. One of his sons was born in some monumental staff house that needs attention for historical reference (check the picture below). The child tested the quality education offered at this school.
Despite its humble beginning and challenges, the school has produced prominent figures in the likes of Dr Guy Scott among others. With a relatively smaller number of teachers and pupils, the current school leadeship is taking a strategic shift from that of depending on government grant to that of making the school self sustaining and contribute positively to national development in diverse ways. Being inspired by nature, the school is turning the plain of river Lunzua into fish ponds. Besides growing beans, maize and potatoes, goat rearing is the next venture on plan following the continuous demand of goat meat both locally and in the SADC region.
The school is devoted to increase the number of fish ponds with full support from the PTA and other stakeholders so as to be harvesting one fish pond per week. Where there is a will there is a way. If the school can be harvesting one fish pond per week with 3 tones (3,000kg), it will have a steady income of K120, 000.00 per week if sold at K40 per kg.
Going forward, the fish can be branded as Lunzua Fisheries and flood it in shopping malls and other markets in Zambia. This may go a long way in providing Zambians with vital fish proteins, create employment and contribute to national development. This will be the Lunzuanisation of the school.
This sounds so gigantic, but it is something that can be actualized. Fish starts rotting from the head but this is far from Lunzua school. Having a visionary leadership, committed and dedicated to duty with entrepreneurial mind-set and undertakings, impossibilities are made possible. Where such is, fuel is always support from well meaning stakeholders.
Nevertheless, as the Lunzua River continues attracting tourists and powering the nation, Lunzua Primary School continues to be enterprising as well as powering the nation by producing vital human resource needed for transformation of society.
Not very coincidental but 'Inspired by nature.'
