• University of Zambia (Great East Road Campus)

BY CHRISTINE MWAABA –

“Let this legend of self sacrifice on the part of the poor people never be forgotten for generations to come. Let it remain as an inspiration to all so that every good that shall come out of this building be to the greater glory of people.’’
These were the words said by Zambia’s first Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda to appreciate the young gallant men and women that had demonstrated their patriotism to the development of this nation.
The desire to add to the national development of Zambia is the responsibility of every Zambian.
In fact, through the roughest and seemingly smooth times, Zambians have the duty to embrace patriotism from all walks of  life. Patriotism is never affected by any politician’s failures, or any shortcoming of some Government policy, or any slump in the economy or stock market.
No matter how far today’s generations may have departed from the original meaning of patriotism of those stars and stripes of the likes of Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Harry Mwaanga NKumbula, Kenneth Kaunda, mama Chibesa Kankasa, the fact is that it’s a question of asking yourself what you can do for your country as a young person and not what the country can do for you.
No outcome of any election, no matter how adverse, should make people, especially the youth, feel any less devoted to the ideals of their forefathers.
Indeed, as life’s experiences mount, the wisdom of the giants that contributed towards the establishment of the University of Zambia (UNZA) needs to be cherished.
It was an exception shown of nationalism which today has benefited a number of individuals who have graduated from the university, including international students.
Well above 40,000 students have graduated from the university. This was made possible due to the spirit that the young people exhibited towards the building of the institution.
Even as youths once again celebrated Youth Day last month, which is commemorated annually on March 12,  every year, youths should begin to adopt the ideals that the older generation exhibited when it came to contributing to the national development of Zambia.
The solidarity that was shared can be a lesson to draw from by the new generation to act as the next voyage of new ideas that will take Zambia to its greater heights.
UNZA was conceived as early as 1953. At that time there was no money to build the university hence the UNIP Government decided to examine other options to ensure that Zambia had its own local graduates especially, because,  opportunities for education and training for indigenous Zambians was unavailable, resulting in an acute shortage of human resource.
This severe shortage of human resource constituted a major constraint on the county’s development. Hence the Government engaged the public to rise funds through what was known as a university fund to collect contributions towards the building of the UNZA.
The main aim of UNZA was to ensure the country was able to produce local graduates who would succeed the departing Europeans and be of assistance in developing the country.
As the result of this shortage, the Government thought is wise to work with the people by way of contribution, seeing that it did not have enough funds to build.
Thereafter, the Government worked with the public to mobilise resources to make sure that their intended mission was achieved. UNIP then sensitised the public on the importance of having a university and the need for contributing of resources.
Fathers, mothers and youths agreed to make contributions towards building UNZA. They contributed money whilst those who could not afford donated farm produce and livestock like goats, cows and chickens.
These were the people who came to be known as the friends of the university. It was at this point that the council was formed to collect and ensure all the contribution that was brought forward was put to good use.
In addition, in March 1963, the Government appointed the  Lockwood Commission to advice on the development of the university.
In January 1964, the Government accepted the Lockwood recommendations. Dr D. Anglin was appointed  vice-chancellor and in October 1965, President Kaunda gave his assent to Act Number 66 of 1965 and on 12 November, UNZA came into existence.
The university began with three schools: Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. But as a facilities developed and  other needs were recognised, new schools were added to the existing ones as follows: School of Law in 1967, School of Engineering 1969, School of Medicine in 1970, School of Agricultural Sciences in 1971, School of Mines in 1973, School of Business and Industrial Studies in 1978 at Ndola Campus, School of Environmental Studies at Ndola Campus in 1981, and School of Veterinary Medicine in 1983.
As Zambia celebrated  the 2015 Youth Day, young people can begin to reflect and learn from the patriotism and nationalism of our forefathers.
The spirit of unity and paying back to the nation is a story that needs to be told. The contributors did not look at who would benefit. People just knew that they needed people to be educated even when they themselves were not educated.
One of Zambia’s well known freedom fighters Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe was one of the exceptional people that personally volunteered to help the builders during construction.
Not only was he known for politics like everyone knows him to have been, Kapwepwe at that time was a youth. He offered his service to help in the construction of the foundation of the university.
He and many others exhibited the spirit of patriotism at the time of the construction. Let’s bear in mind that most of these people un educated youths and the only thing most of them thought they could contribute,  was their physical energy to help at the construction site.
The current generation of young people has the responsibility to learn from the youths of that generation. They should begin to embrace nationalism and give back to the country.
David Phiri, a student at UNZA currently pursuing masters in Adult Education, says – “The old generation did not have the love for themselves but the love for the future generation and we are benefiting now.”
David says as a Zambian national, one must not put their needs first but must be considerate of others. It is best to know what you want to achieve, except for one to succeed in life, they must think of others even when it comes to any career, be being a doctor, a lawyer, a nurse or electrician,  it all leads to serving people.
Young people must learn to be patriotic towards the development of the nation. If it were not for the contributors of those who helped build UNZA, Zambia would not have its own local graduates.
“We are called educated as a result of those who contributed and as the result of the workers who were building the university,” David says.
Currently,  student enrolment stands at more than 24,000 every year compared to the  120 students who were the first graduates.
Inonge Wina the first women Republican Vice President of Zambia says youths should be active participants in issues of the nation development and use their God – given abilities towards innovative ideas.
“Zambia is a youthful country with 82 per cent of its population below the age of 35. No meaningful development can take place without the full participation of the youths,” David said at the 2015 youth prayer service.
In July 1966 President Kaunda was installed as Chancellor in the presence of representatives of more than fifty other universities and some two thousand guests.
Dr Kaunda laid the foundation stone for UNZA at the Great East Road campus to be a symbol of the sacrifice that was given towards the development of Zambia’s education sector.
Today, UNZA has produced graduates too numerous to mention that have taken up key positions including the highest office of the land.
Understanding it, living it, teaching it, and supporting those who are educating others about its principles,  is what patriotism should mean to every Zambian youth.