Dr. Martin Mushumba

This is for the attention of teaching and research staff in our higher education institutions. Please, you go for this generous scholarship! 🙏🏽

Passing An Exam Earns You The Right To Progress To The Next Stage.

One of the weakest arguments I have heard against free education is that classrooms have become crowded. But let us ask ourselves honestly: whose child should have remained outside the classroom? Which family should have been told that their child does not deserve education because there is no space? Were we better as a country when millions of children were out of school simply because their parents could not afford school fees?

Crowded classrooms are not a failure of free education. They are evidence of a long-standing national problem that has finally been exposed because children who were once invisible are now back in school. The correct response is not to condemn free education, but to build more classrooms, recruit more teachers, provide more desks, and strengthen the system. That is exactly the direction the New Dawn Government has taken.

This is why our support for President Hakainde Hichilema as public officers and all well meaning citizens must not be based on the argument that he has no competition. Democracy will always have competition. Our support must be based on the conviction that we are serving a President who has transformed the country. Therefore our support is based on something stronger: performance, delivery, and evidence of impact.

In five years, President Hichilema has made decisions that have touched ordinary lives. Free education has restored hope to children from poor homes. The expanded social cash transfer has reached vulnerable citizens. Cash-for-work has put money in the hands of struggling families. Thousands of teachers and health workers have been employed. The mining sector has been repositioned for recovery. The economy, which was under severe stress, has been given a new path towards stability and growth.

Therefore, the real issue in August 2026 is not whether President Hichilema has opponents. He does. The real issue is whether Zambia should abandon a government that has passed its first major test, restored confidence, and begun rebuilding the foundations of national progress.

For me, the choice is clear. When a leader inherits a struggling economy and still manages to open classroom doors, expand social protection, create jobs, restore economic confidence and give the country a credible path forward, that leader deserves continuity.

President Hakainde Hichilema has not merely promised; he has delivered. Because he has delivered, he deserves the people’s renewed mandate. That is very normal in life: passing an exam earns you the right to progress to the next stage.

Dr. Martin Mushumba
Public Policy and Education Quality Assurance Expert

THE FUTURE OF ZAMBIA AT STAKE: AN ELECTION THAT CALLS FOR YOUR ACTION

This election brings the future of Zambia in the spotlight. It is a national moment that calls upon every citizen to think deeply, speak responsibly and act wisely. You cannot afford to be a spectator. It is not a matter to be left only to politicians, campaign teams and party structures.

This election is about the country we shall wake up to after the votes are counted. It is about the welfare of our children who are now learning under free education. It is about students in public universities who are now benefiting from an expanded higher education loan system. It is about our parents, vulnerable relatives and struggling households who are receiving social cash transfer support. It is about unemployed citizens finding dignity through cash-for-work programmes. It is about the thousands of families whose lives have been touched by jobs created in both the public and private sectors under the New Dawn Government.

Therefore, this election must not be reduced to noise, bitterness and propaganda. It must be a serious choice between continuing with a proven path of recovery or downgrading the country back into the hands of those whose record Zambia still remembers with pain.

For public officers, this is not a call to engage in open partisan politics. No. Public officers must remain professional, ethical and loyal to the State. But being professional does not mean being blind to national progress. Being non-partisan does not mean having no judgement. Being a public officer does not remove one’s right and duty as a citizen, a parent, a guardian, a voter and a stakeholder in Zambia’s future.

Every citizen has a voice. You may not campaign, but you can guide your family. You may not stand on a platform, but you can speak truth in your home. You may not wear party colours, but you can use your judgement correctly. You may not be loud, but you must not be silent when the future of the country is at stake.

As the old saying reminds us, the only thing necessary for wrong to triumph is for good people to do nothing. No well-meaning Zambian should do nothing when the choice before the country is this serious.

In fact, a clear reminder to all is that Zambia must not downgrade. Zambia must not return to the politics of reckless experiments. Zambia must not reward those who damaged the country with another chance to damage it again.

This is a time to rise with wisdom, restraint and patriotism. This is a time to help our families understand what is at stake. This is a time to choose continuity over confusion, progress over anger, recovery over reckless experiments, and national stability over political bitterness.

Zambia has come too far to gamble with its future

Dr. Martin Mushumba
Public Policy and Education Quality Assurance Expert

Zambia Defence University: A Strategic Institution That Must Not Be Delayed

By Dr. Martin Mushumba and Lt General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele

The establishment of the Zambia Defence University rises above an ordinary education project. It is a strategic national security undertaking whose urgency must be understood beyond the usual language of administrative processes, committee files and future budget cycles. At this point, Zambia not to merely have another university in name. The country needs a defence university capable of producing the intellectual edge, technological readiness and strategic leadership required to protect the Republic in an age where the character of war is changing rapidly.

Zambia has already made the legal and policy movement towards this institution. The Zambia Defence University was declared through Statutory Instrument No. 3 of 2018, which converted the Military Training Establishment of Zambia into the Zambia Defence University. More recently, Zambia’s Defence Policy 2025 Implementation Plan recognised the need to expedite the establishment of ZDU and related institutions of military learning. This means the question before the nation is no longer whether ZDU is necessary. The question is whether Zambia will move with the urgency that national security demands.

The warning from Zambia’s own development history is clear. A university can be announced, planned and even symbolically launched, yet fail to become a functioning centre of knowledge if it is left to the slow grind of bureaucracy and inconsistent financing. The experience surrounding King Lewanika University remains a national cautionary lesson: a project may begin with promise, but without sustained implementation, it can become a monument of delay rather than a generator of national transformation.

Clearly, ZDU must not follow that path. Its establishment must be treated as a special national project because defence education is not merely about classrooms, lectures and graduation ceremonies. It is about national survival, territorial integrity, technological sovereignty, intelligence capacity, command preparedness and the ability of the State to anticipate threats before they arrive at its borders.

The Constitution assigns the Defence Force the solemn duty to preserve and defend Zambia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. That duty cannot be fulfilled through courage alone, however noble. It requires trained minds, modern infrastructure, high-technology laboratories, advanced simulation facilities, secure digital systems, research capacity, military medicine, cyber capability, strategic studies, defence economics and a doctrine of continuous learning. A National Assembly committee report has already observed the importance of defence infrastructure and training facilities to operational readiness, including concerns over inadequate modern training facilities in parts of the Defence Force.

The wars and security crises of the present century have taught the world one hard lesson: peace is a national aspiration, but preparedness is a national obligation. Zambia is a peaceful country and must remain so. Yet peace is best protected by institutions that prepare the nation to deter aggression, respond to emergencies, support regional stability and master the technologies that increasingly shape modern conflict.

The ongoing lessons from Ukraine, the Middle East and other theatres show that military strength is no longer measured only by the number of soldiers in formation, armoured vehicles on parade or aircraft in hangars. These remain important, but they are no longer sufficient.

The decisive advantage increasingly lies in the integration of technology, intelligence, data, cyber resilience, unmanned systems, electronic systems, command networks, logistics, medical readiness and the speed with which a defence system learns and adapts. Analysts of the Ukraine war have emphasised continuous testing, experimentation and adaptation as central to modern military effectiveness, while others have shown how smaller states can challenge larger adversaries when they fast track technology assimilation, innovate faster and integrate the private sector into defence capability.

This is why ZDU must be built as a capability, not merely registered as an institution. It must become the intellectual command centre of Zambia’s defence transformation. It must produce officers who understand strategy and science; commanders who can interpret intelligence and technology; logisticians who can manage complex supply chains; engineers who understand the scientific principles behind defence technologies; doctors trained in military medicine; cyber specialists who can protect critical systems; and policy leaders who understand defence economics, international security, peace support operations and national resilience.

Globally, serious defence systems invest in serious defence education. The United States National Defence University educates joint war fighters, national security leaders and cyber professionals for strategic leadership and national security responsibilities. The United Kingdom’s Defence Academy trains in leadership, strategy, information warfare, cyber and multi-domain integration, while working with civilian academic partners. NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme supports partner countries to build, reform and professionalise military education institutions. These examples demonstrate that defence universities are not ceremonial institutions; they are engines of national readiness.

Zambia is not starting from nothing. The Zambia Defence Forces have already undertaken benchmarking with the National Defence University-Kenya. That visit exposed the Zambian delegation to an established African model where defence education, research, intelligence studies, technical training and health sciences are integrated into a broader national defence education system. Kenya’s NDU includes colleges and centres such as the Defence Forces Technical College, Defence College of Health Sciences and Defence Intelligence Academy, demonstrating the kind of specialised ecosystem Zambia must aspire to build.

For that reason, ZDU must not be reduced to ordinary lecture rooms and borrowed facilities. A defence university without laboratories, simulation centres, secure digital platforms, medical training facilities, research centres and field-based practical training would be a university in name but not in strategic effect. Its infrastructure must match its mandate. Its technology must match the modern battlespace. Its curriculum must match the threats of the century.

The university should offer advanced programmes in military sciences, defence and security studies, military medicine, technology and defence management, cyber defence, space security, international security policy, defence economics, logistics, intelligence studies, military operations, leadership, peace support operations and emerging security technologies. These programmes must be competency-based, strongly practical and anchored in real-world defence problems. They must include simulations, field exercises, war-gaming, scenario planning, ethical decision-making, research projects and structured collaboration with defence institutions, civilian universities, industry and regional partners.

It is also imperative that ZDU must become a bridge between the military and the wider national development system. Defence universities are not isolated barracks of knowledge. They are places where military officers, civilian national security actors, scientists, engineers, doctors, economists, policy experts and technology innovators can work together to solve complex national problems. Zambia requires such a platform because national security today includes border integrity, cyber protection, public health emergencies, climate-related disasters, food security, energy security, critical infrastructure protection and regional peace support.

This is where the university’s role in military medicine becomes particularly important. Military medicine is not ordinary healthcare delivered in uniform. It is a specialised field concerned with the health, survival, mobility and readiness of personnel operating under difficult conditions, including emergencies, disasters and peace support operations. A strong ZDU should therefore help Zambia build medical officers and health specialists who understand the unique demands of military environments while also contributing to national emergency preparedness.

The same applies to cyber defence. Zambia’s future security will depend not only on physical borders, but also on the protection of digital borders. Government systems, power networks, communication systems, financial platforms, transport systems and critical public infrastructure can be threatened without a single soldier crossing a boundary. ZDU must therefore train officers and specialists who understand the cyber domain, data security, information integrity and the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with digital defence.

Therefore, a strategic institution of this nature cannot be left to move at the speed of routine bureaucracy. The Government must establish a dedicated implementation mechanism for ZDU, supported by a clear budget line, protected financing, an infrastructure master plan, a technology development plan, quality assurance systems, partnerships with established defence universities and a phased but time-bound operationalisation roadmap. This roadmap must be monitored at the highest levels because national security projects fail when they are treated as ordinary paperwork.

The call is not for reckless spending on the Ministry of Defence. It is a call for strategic investment. Every money spent on ZDU should be tied to measurable capability: a laboratory built, a simulation centre equipped, a programme accredited, a faculty developed, a research centre activated, a partnership signed, a cohort trained, a doctrine improved and a national security problem solved. That is accountability and this is how a defence university becomes a force multiplier.

Zambia’s defence posture must be anchored in professionalism, discipline, patriotism and knowledge. The men and women who wear the uniform carry the honour of the Republic. They deserve an institution that gives them the best intellectual and technological preparation available. The country they defend deserves no less.

Therefore, the ZDU must be accelerated, funded and built to the standard of its purpose. It must not be allowed to exist only in declarations, minutes and good intentions. Zambia needs a defence university that stands on the ground, functions in reality, produces knowledge, strengthens the Defence Force and prepares the nation for the security demands of the future.

Peace remains Zambia’s highest wish. Preparedness must remain Zambia’s highest duty. The Zambia Defence University is where that duty must now be given institutional life. It is a cradle of defence capability for Zambia.

Dr. Martin Mushumba is a Public Policy and Education Quality Assurance Expert and Lt. General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele is the Zambia Army Commander

You Can’t Develop By Destroying What is Working: You Improve Upon It

I strongly believe that one of the experiences that changed my life completely was the opportunity to study in Japan.

Of course, not everyone will have the chance to study in Japan. But sometimes, the greatest value of an experience is not where it happens, but what it teaches you. For me, Japan gave me something very special and very close to my heart: the philosophy of Kaizen, which today I feel we must all embrace.

In simple terms, Kaizen means continuous improvement. It involves making a deliberate effort every day, even in small ways, to become better than you were yesterday.

This philosophy taught me one important lesson: I am not a finished product. I am still growing. I am still learning. I am still becoming.

Every day, I try, no matter how small the effort may appear, to improve one area of my life, my work, my thinking, my discipline, or my service to others. I have learnt to accept that today’s version of myself does not have to be the final version. Tomorrow, I can be better.

But Kaizen is not only about personal growth. It is also a powerful philosophy for institutions, public service and national governance.

At individual level, you do not return to habits, work ethics or systems that once failed you and delayed your progress. You learn from them, leave them behind, and build on what is working.

The same principle applies to the governance of a country. When certain methods, policies and systems are producing positive results (stabilising the economy, strengthening democracy, expanding social protection, improving access to education, growing infrastructure, creating jobs and diversifying the economy, the smart approach is not to abandon them. The wise thing is to improve them, strengthen them and build upon them.

Development is not achieved by constantly destroying what is beginning to work. It is achieved by refining, improving and sustaining the systems that are delivering value to the people.

Countries, institutions and individuals that move forward are those that understand the power of continuity with improvement. They do not fear change, but they also do not confuse change with abandoning progress. They build, adjust, correct, improve and keep moving forward. That is the spirit of Kaizen.

For me, Kaizen remains more than a Japanese philosophy. It is a life lesson. It is a work ethic. It is a governance mindset. It is a reminder that progress is built one improvement at a time.

May we all keep improving ourselves. May we keep improving our institutions. May we keep supporting and strengthening systems that are delivering development for the people.



Dr. Martin Mushumba
Public Policy and Education Quality Assurance Expert

So the only thing you want is for South Africa to lose when it comes to football. Yet its a Friday and you are busy dancing to Amapiano in those clubs...
All the clubs I have visited tonight, everyone busy dancing to "Gone Kanje (feat. Mellow & Sleazy & Dlala Regal) and Tobetsa 3.0 (feat. ShaunMusiq & Ftears)". You pretenders! That's witchcraft!!
Let's just show love to bafana bafana as we solve our family matters from our bedrooms 😂😂😂

Let's keep improving ourselves also through short term competency-based trainings (micro credentials) in order to enhance our job performance (productivity) and serve our country and our people better...

A Word of Encouragement I Do Not Take For Granted

Goodmorning Dr. Mushumba,

Holy greetings from Mindolo Ecumenical College, Kitwe.

I just want to use this platform to appreciate you for your kindness and dedication to duty. I wish to say that I am very impressed with your profile. You are very suitable for the job you hold.

I say this because of the experience that we got in dealing with you in our work

Last month, we were told by our Registrar, Rev. Carol of Mindolo Ecumenical College of how you turned down her lunch offer.

Rev. Carol informed the Synod that she had always found the interaction with you everytime she visted your office very professional and fulfilling. Because of the Synod asked the College to prepare something little to offer you for lunch as a way of appreciating your ever supportive work. She narrated that when she was in your office after you assisted with resolving the issues she brought before you, she offered the lunch money and you refused to accept it saying you were there to serve everyone including those with and without anything to offer you for a thank you.

She brought this testimony to the college. When she narrated this and returned the money back to the college, we all rose and prayed for you thanking God for your leadership.

I was touched by this. May God bless all your days of your work. I have not met you in person but I feel your good work from afar Doc.

May God bless you and guide you in your work always.

Yours in Christ and Service,
Bishop R.C

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I am sincerely grateful for this kind message, Bishop 🙏🏼

Sometimes we serve quietly, without knowing who is watching, who is encouraged, or who is being inspired. Such words remind me that professionalism, honesty and kindness still matter.

Thank you Heavenly Father for the support from the education sector 🙏🏼

YOUR SUCCESS OR FAILURE IS FOUND IN THE COMPANY YOU SORROUND YOURSELF WITH

In the journey of life, we encounter individuals who not only illuminate our path but also inspire us to strive for greatness. One such person in my life is Hjoe Moono, a dear friend from our university days. Herryman was not just an exceptional student in our class; he was a high flyer, a brilliant mind whose mastery of economics was unparalleled.

Graduating with distinction from the University of Zambia in 2007, Herryman showcased his dedication and intelligence. Our time spent together post-university was filled with dreams and discussions about the future. It was during these conversations that Herryman received countless offers from prestigious universities around the globe. Among them was the Rhodes Scholarship, which he ultimately accepted, embarking on a journey to further his education in the United Kingdom at Oxford and Cambridge. His academic achievements left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him.

While Herryman was climbing new heights in academia, I took a different path. I began my career with Bayport Financial Services as a Loan Consultant before transitioning to several government departments, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). I was fortunate to secure positions that offered decent compensation, and for a time, I felt content, convinced that my decision to halt my educational journey was justified. Yet, deep down, I could sense Herryman’s unwavering belief in my potential.

Herryman often urged me to continue my studies, reminding me that my capabilities surpassed the confines of any local university. Despite my attempts to reassure him that my career was fulfilling, he remained steadfast, insisting that I belonged among the academic elite.

One day, during a lunch break, I finally decided to take a step towards furthering my education. I applied for a bachelor's degree in Criminology at Gideon Robert University, hoping it would enhance my skills as an investigator. Gideon Robert University was just across Cairo Road, making it very close to my office at Anti-Corruption House, Kulima Tower.

Herryman, however, was not impressed. "You don’t suit studying from around here; go and study where you deserve to be," he insisted. His words resonated with me, igniting a fire to pursue greater heights.

When I moved to Solwezi, I hoped Herryman’s frequent nudges to apply for my master’s degree would diminish. But he was relentless. He sent me countless links to scholarships and programs, always encouraging me to chase my dreams. Finally, I applied to several universities in the UK, hopeful yet not as determined.

Unfortunately, the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (Bursaries Committee) denied me the Commonwealth Scholarship due to a missed deadline for my documents. I shared the news with Herryman, expecting sympathy, but to my surprise, he was furious. His disappointment transformed into action as he fought passionately for my education, pressing for the recognition I deserved. Within a week, he provided me with numerous scholarship opportunities, reigniting my hope.

It was during this renewed pursuit that I received three scholarship offers for programs in Japan, New Zealand, and Sweden. I faced an exciting dilemma: which opportunity to choose? Ultimately, I selected the Joint/Japan World Bank Scholarship, which not only offered the highest stipend but also the best environment for my family and I.

That decision marked the beginning of a transformative journey that led to an array of qualifications in public and economic policy, education policy, quality assurance, development studies, and applied diplomacy among others. Herryman’s unwavering belief in me was instrumental in reshaping my academic and professional trajectory.

Today, as I reflect on the influence of friends in our lives, I feel compelled to express my gratitude to Herryman. His passion for education and faith in my abilities opened doors I could never have imagined. Thank you, Herryman, for being a beacon of encouragement and a brother in arms who believed in my potential.

To everyone reading this, remember that your circle is your strength and weakness. It would open windows to success or work against your progress. Let us follow the footsteps of those who inspire us, embracing the courage to push ourselves to greater height.

Dr. Martin Mushumba
Public Policy and Higher Education Quality Assurance Expert

Defeating Tribal Politics in Zambia: Voting Beyond Tribal Orientation

Five years ago today, I met a former UNZA comrade and close friend at Levy Mall Junction. Zambia was then moving towards the August 2021 elections, and the political climate was tense.

We had a quick conversation, catching up on many issues, including politics. Although we were close friends from the University of Zambia, we differed sharply in political ideology as time passed. He was deeply involved in the then ruling Patriotic Front where he occupied a key role, while I believed that Zambia needed a new direction.
What disturbed me most was not the political difference. It was the tribal reasoning behind it. He told me directly that the UPND would only form government under a non-Tonga leader, and not under Hakainde Hichilema.

That statement troubled me deeply. I remember asking myself: why should any Zambian be disqualified from national leadership because of the tribe into which they were born? No one chooses their tribe at birth. We are born Zambian before we are anything else.

I went back to the office disturbed. While drafting an accreditation report, my mind was still on that conversation. In the middle of the report, completely unrelated to the subject, I accidentally typed: “we are winning this election.”

It was not a typo. It was what was going through my mind.

My supervisors did not notice it, but the then Director General, Prof. Stephen Simukanga, did. Like the fatherly leader he has always been, he called me and gently asked, “Martin, have you seen this?” He pointed to the statement and counselled me not to carry elections too deeply into my work. We laughed about it even we he repeatedly teased me about my "we are winning this election" comment. My supervisors and colleagues laughed at me and we kept it as a joke.

A few months later, Zambia spoke. The election was won. Tribal politics was defeated.
Today, as Zambia again approaches another election, that memory returns with a powerful lesson: we must never judge leadership through the narrow lens of tribe. Every candidate must be assessed as a Zambian first, and by the quality of their ideas, their record, their character, and their vision for the country.

Tribe does not build roads. Tribe does not create jobs. Tribe does not educate children. Tribe does not grow the economy. Tribe does not build hospitals. Tribe does not unite a nation. Vision, competence, integrity and service do.

The Zambia we must defend is bigger than tribe, bigger than region, bigger than political party, and bigger than individual ambition. Elections must never become a census of tribes. They must be a contest of ideas for national progress.

Let us reject tribal politics in all its forms. Let us vote with conscience, patriotism and love for country.

One Zambia, One Nation.

Dr. Martin Mushumba
Public Policy and Education Quality Assurance Expert