Zambian Open University

In February 2002 six founding members working with other colleagues from the University of Zambia (UNZA), academic and corporate world thought of establishing the first private University to meet the demand for higher education that had arisen in the country. They included:

Prof Dickson Mwansa Former Dean, School of Education, University of Zambia (UNZA), Chairperson Prof Elizabeth Mumba Former  Deputy Vice-Chancellor, UNZA, Member Mr Hugo Mubashi Former Company Secretary, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), Member Dr Salome Katwishi Former Principal Inspector of Schools, Ministry of Education, Member Mr Hatchwell Siulanda Former Programme Officer, UNICEF, and former Company Secretary, Member Mr Edward Cholwe Former Chief Accountant, LONHRO Zambia, Member.

The founders realized that in 2002 there were 32,000 primary and 7,000 Secondary school teachers with  certificate and diploma qualifications in need of University education whose demand could not be met through traditional methods of teacher education. However, education could be brought to their doorsteps through new, flexible methods and approaches. As a result, they decided on an ‘Open University’. The founders invited forty Zambians to participate in the running of the institution, through the acquisition of shares. ZAOU commenced its operations along Kafue Road at Waterwells, in an office generously rented to it by MBBZ, a company ran by Dr Moses Banda, a prominent citizen of Lusaka. The Ministry of Education prevail upon ZAOU to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Zambia (UNZA), in order to be recognized and registered    under the University Act No. 11 of 1999 of the Laws of Zambia.

A number of intensive discussions were held with both the Ministry of Education and the University of Zambia which focused on the modalities of how the new institution would interface with the existing state universities. The MoU which allowed ZAOU to engage the services of UNZA staff and use existing UNZA curricula while reciprocating this with some fees accruing to UNZA was duly signed on 23rd November, 2004. On 23rd December, 2004 the then Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Mulenga registered ZAOU, thus heralding the birth of the first Open University in Zambia. On 2nd February, 2005 the Board of Directors appointed Prof Dickson M. Mwansa as the first Vice – Chancellor and Chairperson of the Directors for ZAOU. Mr Hatchwell Siulanda was appointed the first Registrar, while Dr Enela Mwase, the former Dean of UNZA’s School of Veterinary Medicine was invited to replace Prof Elizabeth Mumba who had resigned, to take an appointment in Foreign Service.