President says decision has been made as Government plans six new public universities President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that Choma District will host the proposed public university for Southern Province, bringing to an end competition among districts seeking to host the higher learning institution. Choma, which also serves as the provincial headquarters, has been selected President says decision has been made as Government plans six new public universities President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that Choma District will host the proposed public university for Southern Province, bringing to an end competition among districts seeking to host the higher learning institution. Choma, which also serves as the provincial headquarters, has been selected President says decision has been made as Government plans six new public universities President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that Choma District will host the proposed public university for Southern Province, bringing to an end competition among districts seeking to host the higher learning institution. Choma, which also serves as the provincial headquarters, has been selected President Hakainde Hichilema announces Choma as the site for Southern Province's public university as Government plans six new universities from 2027.

President says decision has been made as Government plans six new public universities

President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that Choma District will host the proposed public university for Southern Province, bringing to an end competition among districts seeking to host the higher learning institution.

Choma, which also serves as the provincial headquarters, has been selected as the location for the university, with the President saying a decision had already been made despite interest from other districts in the province.

Mr Hichilema made the announcement on Tuesday when he addressed residents who gathered to welcome him at his farm in Choma at the beginning of his 10-day visit to Southern Province.

The President said the decision to locate the university in Choma was informed by the district’s strategic position as the administrative centre of the province.

He disclosed that Government also intends to establish public universities in other provinces that currently do not have such institutions, as part of efforts to address inequalities in access to higher education.

The provinces earmarked for the new universities include Western, North-Western, Luapula, Eastern and Northern, alongside Southern Province.

Mr Hichilema said it was unfair that people from these provinces had to travel to other parts of the country to access public university education simply because their respective provinces did not have such institutions.

He said the inequalities in the distribution of public higher education infrastructure had existed since independence in 1964 and that Zambians had given him a mandate to correct them.

The President said expanding the geographical distribution of public universities would give more young people opportunities to pursue higher education closer to their communities.

Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Edgar Sing’ombe informed the President that land for the proposed university and the planned international airport in Choma had already been secured, with title deeds obtained for the two projects.

The development follows President Hichilema’s campaign commitments to establish public universities and international airports in provinces that do not have such facilities.

The university announcement also comes against the background of Government’s broader plan to expand access to higher education through the construction of six public universities.

During the presentation of the 2027 National Budget, Finance Minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane announced that Government would commence construction of six public universities in 2027, covering Southern, Western, North-Western, Luapula, Eastern and Northern provinces.

For Choma, the proposed university and international airport would represent two major infrastructure projects with potential implications for education, employment, business and the wider development of Southern Province.

However, attention will now turn to the implementation of the projects, including construction timelines, funding arrangements, the size and scope of the university and the facilities it will offer.

Zambian Eye will continue following developments surrounding the proposed university and international airport as the President undertakes his 10-day visit to Southern Province.

Related posts:

1. Choma Institute of Teacher Education
2. Business Education Students Need Accounting Software Skills for Commercial Banks Employment
3. We want powers to recall non-performing public officials- Southern Province citizens tell Constitutional Committee
4. “Be grateful that you are an MP,” Hichilema tells former Minister Mweetwa