By NDUBI MVULA –
UNIVERSITY of Zambia (UNZA) acting vice-chancellor Enala Tembo-Mwase says the partnership between the higher institution of learning and Times Printpak Limited will play a critical role in ensuring that there is enhanced educated, enlightened and well-informed citizenry in the country.
“It is our trust that your newspaper will provide the platform for the university to communicate to the citizens of this country and beyond its borders. The University of Zambia will provide the information you need and a business atmosphere for you,” she said.
Professor Tembo-Mwase was speaking yesterday during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between her institution and Times Printpak Limited in the senate chambers and was accompanied by acting deputy vice-chancellor Micky Sikaenyi Mwala.
Times Printpak managing director Bestone Ng’onga signed on behalf of the company together with advertising manager Constance Mbewe.
The partnership between the two institutions was in preparation for the celebration of the forthcoming Golden Jubilee, where the newspaper will provide maximum publicity.
Prof Tembo-Mwase said the institution launched the Golden Jubilee programme on December 6 last year, which was graced by first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, who was the first UNZA chancellor.
She said at inception in 1966, the number of the first students to graduate stood at 335, while in 2014 it was 25,000, an indication that there were many Zambians who needed higher education, especially with the construction of more primary and secondary schools by the Government.
“In politics, we are very happy that we have produced two presidents. We are launching an Alumni and expect President Edgar Lungu to come and lay a foundation for the multi-purpose teaching facility. We already have a landmark for late President Levy Mwanansawa the students’ hostel named after him,” Prof Tembo-Mwase said.
She said her institution was excited with the preparations, because it was a moment that would “afford us an opportunity to reflect on our amazing history and highlighting incidences of self-sacrificing, unwavering commitment and determination of  many gallant sons and daughters of Zambia who worked so hard to have this great institution of higher learning established in 1965.”
Mr Ng’onga said his institutions felt blessed and honoured to be part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and described it as a turning point for the university to experience better tidings than before.
He said the period of the jubilee was a moment when individuals as well as institutions experienced prosperity as it was also a well-known fact that it was a time when old things were gone to pave way for better times.
Mr Ng’onga said it was important Times Printpak was associated with the Jubilee celebrations so that the positive developments at the institution are associated with the newspaper.
“So many things start to change in the Jubilee and it is a rare opportunity that calls for celebration by all the people. It is a turning point in time where everything that seemed impossible becomes possible. When an institution is going through turbulence, it’s not the right time to start gnashing teeth and decide to leave because you will not have a good legacy to talk about but it’s time to stand firm and help turn around the clock,” he said.
Mr Ng’onga was in the last group of university graduates to be awarded certificates at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre by Dr Kaunda as his last assignment with the institution in December 1990.
He said when society or a country was in a Jubilee period, there was more positive change experienced and it called for all to celebrate and that the only way people would appreciate the works of the university was through sharing with them information of success, and that was where his newspaper came in.
Mr Ng’onga assured Prof Tembo-Mwase and the university organising team that that Times Printpak Limited would fully commit itself towards the successful celebrations of the Golden Jubilee.