Vice President Nalumango urges student leaders to drive change beyond campus walls

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has urged student leaders to leverage their positions to cultivate leadership qualities that drive development beyond the confines of their universities.

Speaking in Lusaka on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the Inaugural Peace, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution Training for Student Leaders at the University of Zambia (UNZA), Nalumango stressed the importance of remaining independent of mass pressure and committed to peaceful conflict resolution.

She reminded student leaders of their role as custodians of both academic progress and national development.

Nalumango warned that riots often stemmed from dissatisfaction fueled by a narrow perspective and urged students to critically evaluate issues before resorting to extreme actions.

“I urge students to critically evaluate issues before resorting to crude or riotous actions,” she stated.

She further encouraged students and young people nationwide to adopt solution-oriented approaches and use diplomatic, officially sanctioned channels to express their grievances.

“Leadership requires patience, and this is especially crucial for young leaders,” she added.

Minister of Education, Douglas Syakalima, also called on student leaders to set high standards for future generations, emphasizing that Zambia’s Christian values should guide their leadership practices.

“Zambia is a Christian nation, and you must apply biblical principles in your leadership practices,” he urged.

Additionally, UNZA Student Union President, Dixon Matambo, appealed for closer collaboration between the government and university management.

He stressed the importance of involving student representatives in decisions that directly affect them.

“As the Vice President highlighted, management and the government must work with us and include us in serious decision-making because we are second-in-command leaders,” he stated.

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