Build Houses First, Punish Officers Behind Irregular Transfers — Government Told Over Rural Teacher Redistribution

Calls are growing for Government to address poor living conditions in rural schools and hold education officials accountable before redistributing teachers from urban to rural areas. Former Lufwanyama East parliamentary aspirant Kalesha and MORETA Zambia have both welcomed plans announced by Copperbelt Provincial Minister Emmanuel Kasambo to address teacher shortages in rural communities, but warned that the exercise must not unfairly punish teachers.

Kalesha says the imbalance between urban and rural schools needs urgent attention, but argues that Government must first provide decent accommodation and essential services in rural areas. He revealed that some teachers working in Lufwanyama commute daily from Mufulira, Kitwe, Chingola and Kalulushi because of inadequate housing near their schools. He questioned how teachers, particularly those with families, could be expected to relocate to communities without proper housing, toilets, internet access and reliable transport.

Meanwhile, MORETA Zambia Executive Director Dr. Samuel Mbumba has called for an audit of teacher transfers, arguing that senior education officials who approved irregular movements should be held accountable before affected teachers are compelled to return to rural stations. The organisation alleges that some transfers were approved through corruption and personal connections despite a Ministry of Education directive restricting transfers for teachers who had not completed four years at their stations. MORETA wants Provincial Education Officers, District Education Board Secretaries and human resource officials who authorised irregular transfers investigated and disciplined where wrongdoing is established.

Both Kalesha and MORETA Zambia agree that rural children deserve qualified teachers and that correcting the imbalance is necessary. However, they insist that redistribution must be accompanied by improved living conditions, transparent procedures and protection against victimisation. MORETA has also urged teacher unions to participate in the exercise, warning that the officials responsible for approving questionable transfers must not escape accountability while ordinary teachers bear the consequences.