By Mary Kachepa
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Blake Mulala has commended the UPND administration for improving livelihoods through the mass recruitment of teachers.
Speaking during the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) silver jubilee celebrations in Lusaka, Mr. Mulala said the recruitment drive has not only transformed the lives of teachers but also revitalised colleges of education, which are now enrolling more students as prospects for deployment improve.
He further thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for assenting to Constitution Amendment Bill No. 7, noting that the new law will change representation in Parliament. Mr. Mulala urged teachers to help inform the public about the law to counter misinformation, stressing concern that some citizens have been misled into believing that general elections will not be held next year due to the enactment of Bill 7.
Meanwhile, Labour and Social Security Minister Brenda Tambatamba praised BETUZ for its role in improving the standards of basic education and the welfare of teachers. She said government recognises the critical role teachers play in implementing policies aimed at meeting national targets and driving development in the education sector.
Several beneficiaries of the mass teacher recruitment also shared their experiences. Womba Sale, who graduated in 2017 and was employed in 2025, said her life has changed for the better and pledged to serve with dedication. Kondanani Miti, deployed in 2022 after completing his studies in 2017, thanked government for the opportunity, recalling how he previously worked as a taxi driver. Suwilanji Namutengu, now a teacher at Chimutengo Primary School in Luangwa District, said she worked in restaurants and bars before being deployed, and expressed gratitude for the transformation in her life.
