GOVT CHALLENGES UNZA MANAGEMENT
By Wilson Mulinda-
Education Minister DOUGLAS SYAKALIMA has challenged the University of Zambia -UNZA- Management to be innovative and come up with initiatives for effective revenue generation and sustainability.
Mr. SYAKALIMA says government is concerned with the financial lapses at the highest learning institution which have resulted in failure to pay retirees terminal benefits and other administrative issues.
He says government will invest more in education such as infrastructure and financing, but UNZA must demonstrate that it has the potential to capitalize on its strengths.
Mr. SYAKALIMA has also encouraged the private sector to get into public private partnerships with Government through learning institutions like UNZA.
The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by Permanent Secretary Technical Services JOEL KAMOKO during the 2nd day of the 51st graduation of the University of Zambia, where 4-thousand and 53 students graduated.
Meanwhile, UNZA Vice Chancellor LUKE MUMBA said the institution has taken many steps to address the challenges it faces, such as completing the wall fence at the school to regulate access.
Prof. MUMBA said the school still remains with an accommodation deficit and that out of 24-thousand students, only 3-thousand 9-hundred are accommodated in campus.
And giving a vote of thanks, Graduate from the school of humanities LEAH MWAMBI thanked UNZA management and Government for prioritizing education for the benefit of the nation.
Among those that graduated include Former First Lady ESTHER LUNGU, who bagged a degree of Bachelor in Education, graduating with a distinction.
Others that have graduated are ZNBC’s Controller for News and Current Affairs KENNEDY BWALYA, News Writer BRIGHT MUKWASA, Producers JASON DUBE, and WELLINGTON MOYO among others.