Pick 'n'Pay Zambia Donates Computer Lab to Mahatma Ghandi Primary School

By MacPherson Mukuka

The Communities are the number one contributors towards any business’s growth, and in realizing this, companies have a way of saying thank you to their customers, through their corporate social responsibility policy.

On Friday, May 29, 2015, one of the fastest growing Chain stores in the country, Pick ‘n’ Pay demonstrated this by handing over a Computer Laboratory Building to Mahatma Gandhi Primary school in Mtendere Township.

The event was graced by Gender Minister Nkandu Luo, who is also patriotic Front Munali area Member of Parliament.

Addressing the audience, Professor Luo praised the Pick and pay for the support rendered to school.

She said their support has come at the time when the constituency is grappling with financial limitations to embark on the many projects that have been earmarked.

Professor Luo emphasized on the need to guard jealously the infrastructure as it will serve lives and bring about development in the education sector.

She said the Government values the contribution the private sector plays in uplifting the standards of the people through supplementing Government's effort of taking development to all sectors.   

And Pick and Pay Zambia General Manager, Mark Vickery pledged his store’s continued support towards community development.

He said the organization partners with a school in each community it is located and Mahatma Gandhi happens to be one of the partners.

Mr. Vickery added that the chain store has been privileged to work with all kinds of people including the physically challenged.

In the area of education, Mr. Vickery said the store put much emphasis on the sector and that the donation of the computer lab is a demonstration of the store's commitment to enhancing ICT development.

And speaking earlier School heard teacher Stanley Chileshe, took advantage of the event and shared the challenges the school is facing, among them lack of electricity.

Mr. Chileshe added that the school also has challenges in other areas such as teaching facilities, and the encroaching of it's land by the political party cadres.  

Meanwhile, Ministry of Education Senior education standards officer in charge of natural sciences, Nyambe Sefulo said the donation has come in handy especially that government has just revised the curriculum which includes computer lessons.

He has since appealed to the school management and pupils to look after the infrastructure with at most care.

The fruits of the public private partnership which government has been promoting, are seen in such gestures by the private community, the responsibility now remains with the school to look after the infrastructure.

The building has been constructed at a cost of over 100 thousand kwacha and is in honor of Late South Africa First Republican President Nelson Mandela.