Wonderful Group and ZNS Break Ground for New Secondary School in Chilanga
The Wonderful Group of Companies, in partnership with the Zambia National Service (ZNS), has officially launched the construction of Safari Secondary School in Chilanga, marking a significant step towards expanding access to quality, free education in one of the district’s fastest-growing communities.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Tuesday, was attended by senior government officials, community leaders, and schoolchildren, underscoring the project’s importance to both military families and the wider population.
Officiating at the event, Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma praised the Wonderful Group’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, describing the initiative as a “beacon of hope and opportunity” for future generations.
“I now understand why they are called the Wonderful Group – their projects across Zambia truly live up to the name,” he said, commending the company’s longstanding contributions to national development.
The school, which will be built on land donated by ZNS, is expected to be completed within 18 months at a cost of over K35 million. It will provide modern facilities for hundreds of learners and help ease pressure on the district’s overstretched education infrastructure.
Chilanga District Education Board Secretary Lenny Longwe described the project as “real, sustainable development”, noting that free education has led to a surge in enrolment and heightened demand for school places.
“With public schools still in the minority, this investment will ensure that more children can access quality education close to home,” she said.
Wonderful Group Acting Chief Executive Officer Roy Mwamba reaffirmed the company’s pledge to complete the school in record time. He highlighted the firm’s wider contributions to Chilanga, including electrification projects, water infrastructure, a police post, and a 20-bed hospital now run by the Ministry of Health.
“This is more than a construction site – it is a foundation for brighter futures,” Mr Mwamba said.
ZNS Commander Maliti Solochi hailed the partnership as an example of how the military can complement the Ministry of Education by providing disciplined, well-managed educational environments.
“This school will not only serve the children of our personnel but also those from surrounding communities,” he said.
Chilanga MP Sipho Hlazo credited the project’s inception to a pledge made by Wonderful Group Chairman Mr Wang, following discussions to address the area’s education gap. He urged other companies to emulate the example set by United Capital Fertilizer, a Wonderful Group subsidiary, in combining business growth with community investment.
The Safari Secondary School project forms part of the Wonderful Group’s wider social development agenda and coincides with the company’s upcoming 15th anniversary in Zambia. It also supports government priorities under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, which has made free education, teacher recruitment, and school infrastructure development central to national policy.
Once complete, the school is expected to transform educational opportunities for the local community, reinforcing the role of public-private partnerships in driving Zambia’s development agenda.
