Former University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Mutale Chanda has died. He died in Lusaka on May 25th 2020 after a short illness. He served the University as Vice-Chancellor from 1998 to 2002.
Prof. Chanda’s death was confirmed by the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) where he served as a Board Member.
According to a statement from Board Chairman of the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) Board of Governors Margaret Mwanakatwe, Prof Chanda was an accomplished academician and a valued member of the team whose immense contributions to the growth of PMRC and the country at large will be remembered.
Management and Staff wish to announce with great sadness the passing of Professor Mutale Chanda.
He passed away on the 25th of May, 2020.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends during this difficult time,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
Biography for the late Prof Mutale Chanda
Academic Qualifications
- B.Eng. 1974 in Mining Engineering
- M.Sc. 1979 in Mining Engineering
- PhD. 1981 in Mining Engineering
Professor Mutale Chanda: (B.Eng, 1974.) University of Zambia; (M.Sc. 1979) Mining Engineering, Queen’s University at Kingston in Ontario, Canada; ( PhD. 1981) Mining Engineering, University of Wales Cardiff, UK.
Teaching interests including courses in Rock Mechanics and Time Dependent rock Deformation; Advanced Rock Mechanics, Mine Mechanisation, Drilling and Blasting, Geotechnical Engineering, Rock Strength and Failure, Soil Mechanics, Rock Fragmentation, Shaft Sinking, Mine Planning and Management.
Teaching has been conducted at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Research interests are in the areas of Drilling and Blasting, Material Characterisation, Mining Technology and Ground stability studies. This research, culminating in more than 30 and 20 refereed article publications in journals and technical reports respectively.
He has also supervised many students at undergraduate and post graduate levels of study.
He has been active in consultancy, generally in the area of rock mass classification and strength.
He was currently working on an advanced manuscript of a book in the area of technological use of explosives and blasting techniques in mining.
Professor Chanda had diligently served the University in many capacities.
He served the University as Vice – Chancellor (1998-2002). Acted as Dean School of Mines on numerous occasions; Head of the Department of Mining Engineering (1985-1995), Assistant Dean General (1994-1996) Member of the University Senate (1993 – 1997);. Assistant Dean Post Graduate (1994 – 1996) and (2013).
He has served on numerous other committees at University and School level.
He was the first and founding Coordinator of the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, Mineral Resources Unit, (UNU/INRA/MRU)( 1993-1998); Served on many Disciplinary Committees of the University and the School of Mines.
National committees include the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) (2003 – 2008), appointed by the Republican President; Salaries Review Commission (SRC) (2008-2012) appointed by the Republican President.
Task force member on Feasibility study for the establishment of the Zambia Catholic University (ZCU) (2003-2005); Council member ZCU (2006 – 2012), both appointments by the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC).
He has during his 40 years of service at UNZA, served on over 50 university and public life committees.
He was until his death serving as Governor, on the Board of Governors of the Policy Monitoring and Research Centre (PMRC) (2012-to Date);
Board Chairman of the Livingstone International University of Tourism Excellence and Business Management (LIUTEBM).
He is also a Member, of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), Task Force on Sustainable Mining Practices.
Professional memberships include Membership to the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) (1985-1997) (Now Under renewal); Member, International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) (2008 to Date).
Oh dear, this is sad news. They didn’t come more humble than this gentleman. Always nice to talk to.
RIP ba Prof, you ran your race and did an excellent job as Vice Chancellor under very difficult circumstances during those dark days of FTJ.
Sincerest condolences to the entire Chanda family, the nation has lost a great scholar and a true patriot of the development of academics in the nation.
Zambia have powerful brains, they are dying off, leaving us with thugs.
These were people to run ZCCM-HI. Not these chaps being by fvcked by Sudanese.
Night Brain. I remember him when I was at Unza.
Why did we have such intelligent people becoming lecturers and not businessmen.
Such men could have held mi e rights and become.e big employers.
whim can we fault for such a scenario.
Rest in peace boss
Big Brain….
People die early in Zambia. at 73….sad
PF is abusing Zambians. PF Zwaaaaaaaaaaaa
R.I.P COMRADE
Rainsunmoon you dont need a big brian to do bussines, you need interest, thats the muscle to hustle, too much education dilutes that, cause you become committed to certain ritual books, journals and research.
Rest in Knowledge prof.
May his soul rest in eternal peace. We losing intellectual and left with junk politicians.
So sad. Mwebantu!
From his rich CV, I’m sure he could have done well to serve as a CEO for ZCCM-IH.
Not this Kangaroo called Mabvuto. Ni Mabvuto yeyeka amweo!
Here we lose an intellectual.
Those qualifications are clear and verifiable.
Now someone show this CV to Local Govt PS Dr Warra Chomba the Bishop for comparison.
Rest in peace Prof Chanda.
What a great man MYSRIP reminds me of my UNZA days. A very humble man indeed
Prof you did your work….
He was called Bill,…… for those of us who knew him that close
Great loss to Mining Education sector. Many who are now Mine Managers came from his Xool. MHSRIP
RIP, Prof. Chanda
MHSRIP
RIP Prof. You were always friendly to students and easy to talk. Loved your swagger big man.
He did his part in the field he chose. Great man and joyous individual. A member of lions club international here in Zambia, he was exceptional and did not throw around his authority.
I have read what other bloggers are saying: he should done business instead of lecturing. Others still think, he should have been the one running zccm-hi or whatever. Thank you for such observations, he chose what he wanted to do in life and he did that with passion. He did his part and now departed to eternal rest. He is not like those jumping around wanting to be every thing:engineer, business man, politician, pastor, and at last saviors. It does not work that way. Professor hamba khatle, mwende umutende, go well sir!!!!
Condolences to the family.
On another note, I see an impressive CV as a personal accomplishment but I also notice why we have a problem in Zambia. Too FEW people with so many things to do. Sitting on so many boards and commissions is a recipe for the inefficiency we see all around us. People should specialise and concentrate on ONE thing only. Albert Einstein may be a genius but he never sat on so many boards and committees that lesser mortals have. Let us learn to do less efficiently with MORE people.
Sorry for the loss.
At the #the Saint. Good point. There are many brains in Zambia we can utilise but such are not vested in the same people. We need to learn to specialise and improve efficiency. The country will then see an exponential growth in its material as well as human wealth.
The last time I talked to Prof Chanda was at Northmead shopping centre. We both moaned about the mushrooming universities and where academic staff to teach in them would come from. He was a fine academic who knew wht UNZA needed but was frustrated from achieving it from beginning to end.
These are the real men. He lived a purposeful life. He was an asset to society. Compare him to politicians of today what hv they achieved frm the money they steal.
MYSRIP my Professor,you were really an inspiration and had passion for Lecturing. I remember those days at UNZA when the professor was appointed Vice Chancellor but he would still find time to supervise his Mining Engineering students doing final year projects and equally he would come over to lecture us in Drilling & Blasting Course even when he had a tight programme as Vice Chancellor.
A very humble and amiable man who, as Vice-Chancellor, supported me through and through when I was doing my PhD abroad. He was such a gentleman, easy to talk to. He never forgot me from the time he was introduced to me. We always greeted each other whether on campus, in shopping malls and at Church. He was a rare breed of simple and very down to earth academics. I will certainly be there to escort him on his journey back to his creator.
I always remember his humility when he visited my hostel room (Kwacha 4 Room 10) in 1998 on his tour to the student resident hall. He talked to me like his own child. I was just a freshman in the University and that gave me a lot of encouragement. That was a wonderful moment to remember. MHSRIP.