Approximately 700 million kwacha is needed for the immediate rehabilitation of water, sanitation, roads, hostels and teaching facilities at the University of Zambia (UNZA).
UNZA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mundia Muya stated that the Great East Road (GER), Ridgeway (RW) and Kitwe campuses are in dire need of comprehensive rehabilitation.
Prof. Muya made the remarks during the signing ceremony of a concession agreement between government and Goodlife Group Zambia in Lusaka on Friday for the construction of 6,480 new UNZA bed spaces, valued at 37 million United States dollars.
“As of December 2025, our student population had grown to 35,131. Yet, against this rising demand, we have only 4,179 available bed spaces,” he disclosed.
“This creates a staggering shortfall of over 18,000 bed spaces, leaving the vast majority of our students to seek accommodation in unregulated, often unsafe environments off-campus.”
Prof. Muya said concession agreement, which represents a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, is a template for how the university intends to bridge some of its infrastructure deficits.
He added that the university is open for business and is actively seeking further PPP opportunities to drive transformation through projects such as the comprehensive rehabilitation of student hostels, as well as the repurposing and conversion of existing houses, among others.
Speaking at the same event, Goodlife Group Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Shawn Kabemba disclosed that the construction of the new UNZA bed spaces will be completed within two years.
Mr. Kabemba added that the bed spaces will be built to international standards, stating that the company will also be responsible for maintaining the facilities.
Notable government officials present at the signing ceremony included Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane; Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi; and Minister of Education, Douglas Sykalima, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary for Administration, Noriana Muneku.
Picture Credit: Gerald Mambwe