‘Don’t send school-children for caterpillar harvesting’

STEPHEN MWEWA writes@SunZambianPARENTS should desist from sending their school- going children in the bush for caterpillar collection, Chief Mpepo has warned.The traditional leader of the Bemba speaking people in Kanchibiya district, said the season for caterpillar had set in and parents had a habit of sending their children to harvest the delicacy.Chief Mpepo said he would be conducting inspections in villages and schools to check on pupils’ school attendance.He said parents whose children would be found absent as a result of going for caterpillar collection, would be punished.The traditional said pupils should concentrate on their education now, owing to the fact that they stayed long without going to school when COVID-19 broke out.Chief Mpepo was speaking in an interview.He said it had always been a trend for parents and their children to set out in the bush where they camp for weeks as they collect caterpillars.The villagers collect caterpillars for home consumption while the bulk is for sale to people who travel from Lusaka, Copperbelt and other areas. The Sun