Lindian Resources rehabilitating Kangankunde Primary School into modern facility at cost of US1 million

* To feature modern classrooms, a sick bay, a nursery section, netball and football facilities and will be fenced with solar-powered security lighting

* Construction began in early January and is expected to be completed by March 2026 with Lindian pledging to provide school uniforms, shoes and notebooks to all learners

By Mary Makhiringa, MANA

Lindian Resoirces Limited, the Australian mining company that is exploring rare earth minerals at Kangankude Mine in Balaka District, is rehabilitating Kangankunde Primary School into modern facility at a cost of US1 million.

Construction began in early January and is expected to be completed by March 2026 to feature modern classrooms, a sick bay, a nursery section, netball & football facilities and will be fenced with solar-powered security lighting.

Lindian Mining Company has also pledged to provide school uniforms, shoes and notebooks to all learners once all is completed, a project which immensely impressed Minister of Education, Science & Technology, Bright Msaka when he officially laid the foundation stone for the school’s reconstruction on Friday.

The school is close to Kangankunde Hills, the site where Lindian Resoirces is in the process of extracting rare earth minerals and in addition to the school, the Australian company has constructed Kankao Police Unit in the area and rehabilitated a boardroom at Balaka District Council offices.

Lindian Resources Executive Board chairperson, Robert Martin, pledged continued collaboration and investments, saying they have committed to set aside part of their annual profits and give back to this community.

“We are currently working on this primary school, and next we will construct a secondary school as we are aware that children walk very long distances to access secondary education,” he said.

Minister Msaka commended Lindian Resources for investing in education by reconstructing the Kangankunde Primary School into a modern facility, emphasising that the initiative aligns with government priorities.

He indicated that President Arthur Peter Mutharika is committed to education through initiatives such as free secondary school and compulsory primary education — and the private sector involvement, such as Lindian’s supports government efforts to achieve its education goals.

“We are very proud and grateful for the transformation that has already started showing even before you begin the actual work,” he said. “This simply shows how committed the company is to give back to the community they are working in.

Let me urge other companies to learn from Lindian,” Msaka said, adding that investing in education is one of the most important commitments a country can make: “An investment in education is the surest investment for this country as it will serve us without doubt in our future.”

Msaka also assured the surrounding community that government will monitor the project to ensure that both the community and the investor benefit from the mining operations.

Senior Chief Chanthunya welcomed the development, recalling past disappointments with other companies, saying: “We have seen companies come and go, often with empty promises.

“When Lindian Company came, I thought it was the usual lies, but when I saw them start work at this school, I felt honoured. Thank you to Lindian Company,” he said.

Kangankunde Primary School learner, Chifundo Banda attested to that the old school was in poor condition, with classes often disrupted during the rainy season and some structures posing safety risks.

The event was also the launch of Project Early Learning, a corporate social responsibility initiative by the mining company aimed at ensuring that benefits from the Kangankunde Mine development reach the local community from the earliest stages.

Msaka praised the company for not only constructing a primary school in the area, but also for its commitment to provide textbooks and school uniforms to all future learners, a move expected to enhance access to quality education.

The Minister, who was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Francis Folley and other senior government officials, toured the school facilities, presented awards, and laid a symbolic brick to mark the continuation of infrastructure development.—Edited by Maravi Express; Pictures by Mary Makhiringa, MANA