Chief Kashiba calls for promotion of free education policy

Chief Kashiba of the Lunda people in Mwense District has added his influential voice to the growing chorus of traditional leaders endorsing the national free education policy. In a recent address, the traditional leader called upon elected officials, civic leaders, and local stakeholders to champion the policy throughout their tenures, ensuring that its transformative benefits reach every household in Luapula Province and beyond. The call underscores the critical role traditional authorities play in bridging national policy initiatives with grassroots execution in Zambia's rural chiefdoms. The free education policy, a flagship initiative of the current administration, has dramatically altered the demographic landscape of public schools across the country. In Mwense District alone, enrollment figures have seen exponential growth as the removal of school fees dismantles financial barriers that historically kept thousands of vulnerable children out of the classroom. Chief Kashiba noted that local leadership must actively encourage parents to send children back to school, countering retrogressive cultural practices and economic pressures that often lead to early marriages or child labor. However, the massive influx of learners has not come without administrative hurdles. Educators and local governance structures have frequently pointed to infrastructural deficits, including overcrowded classrooms and a high student-to-teacher ratio. By rallying stakeholders to support the policy, Chief Kashiba highlighted that the burden of sustaining educational access cannot rest on central government alone. Community participation, supported by effective utilization of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), remains vital in constructing additional classroom blocks and procuring necessary learning materials. Stakeholders within Mwense District have welcomed the traditional leader's remarks, noting that synergy between civic authorities and traditional institutions creates a unifi