In the last University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) elections which were marked by cut-throat competition, Shadrick Mumba jnr emerged victorious by defeating 13 aspiring candidates.
Commonly known as Palu Pala with the slogan Bold and Persistent, here’s a little something about the new UNZASU President.
Mumba is a third year Media and Communication Studies Student who was born in Kitwe and is the second in a family of four.
He stated that growing up, he never thought of being a leader, let alone becoming UNZASU President.
The young leader recalls developing what seemed like leadership qualities in secondary school.
His first role as a leader was when he was appointed as the head boy of Chamboli Secondary School in eleventh grade.
“I was the first head boy at Chamboli Secondary School in Kitwe that ended corporal punishment. This was after several trials of liaising with management and the prefecture board, and I succeeded to convince them to change the school uniform,”
Mumba explained.
Narrating his desire to constantly express himself, the young leader explained that he then went on to join the debate club and represented his school in various debate competitions.
Mumba’s journey at UNZA started like any other student, as a freshman.
Being enrolled under the Department of Media and Communication Studies meant he could work as a presenter at UNZA Radio, the university’s main and only radio statin, something that elated the UNZASU leader.
He worked as an on-air presenter for various shows on UNZA Radio for 3 years and went by the punchy radio name ‘DJ Epic, the boy who comes uninvited’.
Shadrick Mumba Jnr as DJ Epic at UNZA Radio
Before deciding to run for UNZASU Presidency, the young leader was appointed as the Deputy Music Director for UNZA Radio.
An interesting fact to note about Mumba is his love for activism.
The UNZASU leader usually uses social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook to express himself on matters concerning students. This was something he had been doing long before UNZA students recognised him as their union president.
Nevertheless, Mumba’s first love is what he says is embedded in him being a father to a beautiful little girl named Khloe.
“My daughter is my greatest inspiration and the reason I strive to always work hard, and my journey as a parent has taught me to be patient, consistent and tolerant,”
he said.
Mumba also explained that his journey as a student has helped him attain outstanding knowledge and interact with different people from different backgrounds, reaching out to different audiences and making connections.
He stated he emulates the leadership qualities of the late Zambian President Michael Chilufya Sata who he calls a great leader.
Shading more light on the UNZASU President’s personality, Felix Chiteule, a tutor and one of the key people at UNZA Radio, called Mumba a hard worker and goal-getter.
Chiteule added that despite the young leader having a strong character, he is always there to give advice to people whenever they need it.
Shadrick believes in education as a leveller and now that his president he needs to have a strategy that will balance his academics and his position in the union,
he said.
Arlene Banda, a student and one of Mumba’s closest friends, spoke of the young leader as an outstanding, persistent, bold and courageous leader who puts everyone else above himself.
“I believe he will make a good leader, balance his time and continue being an inspiration to many others including myself,”
she said.
Shadrick Chushi Mumba jnr has proven on several occasions that his boldness and persistence yields positive results in all that he does and with such a determined young man leading UNZASU, one can say that the students are in safe hands.