Milenge DAO Recounts 19 Years of Being a Rural Teacher
By Linda Mupemo Godfrey Chikonde After spending many years in school, most young graduates envision themselves working or doing business and settling down somewhere in an urban area. But as fate would have it, some end up in the remotest parts of the country. This is the reality Godfrey Chikonde was slapped with in 1999. He was then a fresh graduate from Mansa College of Education, having obtained his certificate in Primary Education. Mr. Chikonde was also thriving in his football career and at the time, he played for Mansa Wanderers as a defender, on number four. "I was born and bred in Mansa district. I had never imagined myself working, let alone settling in a remote area," he states. "My football team members were not ready to lose me. They actually attempted to push for a transfer for me before I even reported for work," he chuckles. Mr. Chikonde did not know what opportunities and challenges