This was stated by Dr. Martin Mushumba, the Director – Quality Assurance, who was at the time Acting as Director-General, when he gave remarks on behalf of the Authority as Mr. Sakala was laid to rest at Memorial Park in Lusaka on Thursday, 3^rd October, 2024.

“Thabani was so hardworking that if I had to employ somebody today, I would employ Thabani,” Dr. Mushumba said, continuing, “if I employed someone tomorrow, I’d employ Thabani and if I would employ someone in the future, I would employ Thabani as he was someone you wanted to employ every day because you wanted to be around him.”

The Acting Director-General stated that the Late Mr. Sakala showed passion for his work and demonstrated that he loved his work and everyone with whom he worked.

Dr. Mushumba stated that HEA was shuttered by the loss of Mr. Sakala and the Authority would be a very different work place as Mr. Sakala’s absence would be felt.

“Not only was Thabani a colleague but he was a brother to every one of us at the Higher Education Authority,” he said, continuing, “when every one of us reached the office, the first voice you wanted to get and, indeed, the first voice you got was Thabani’s because he would ask everyone if they were comfortable in their offices or if they wanted anything to be done by him.”

Dr. Mushumba added that that was Mr. Sakala’s nature, and because of this nature he was close to everyone at HEA.

“When we received the news of the untimely passing of Thabani, I continued to receive messages of condolences sent to HEA, messages that expressed sympathy and sorrow,” Dr. Mushumba said, adding, “the conclusion I had from the messages I continued to receive was that the most popular person that we had at HEA was Thabani.”

The Acting Director-General concluded with words of comfort to the Sakala family.

“To the family, we cannot comfort you enough because if we feel as much pain as we feel right now in our hearts, we cannot then measure the pain that you have in your hearts,” he said, concluding, “To the Sakalas, we can only appreciate you for bringing Thabani up in the values of integrity, honesty and hard work as you did as it shows the strong family values that you have as a family.”

Mr. Sakala passed away unexpectedly on Monday, 30^th September, 2024, at his home in Lusaka. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Mr. Sakala joined HEA on 1^st September, 2019, as an Office Assistant, the position he continued in until his death.

May the Soul of the Late Mr. Thabani Sakala Rest in Eternal Peace. The Higher Education Authority family shall truly miss you, our friend and brother.

Join the conversation @HEAZambia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube using the hashtag #HEAZambia #HigherEducationZambia, and visit our website, www.hea.org.zm, for ALL the information on higher education in Zambia.

Mr. Sakala passed away unexpectedly yesterday, Monday, 30^th September, 2024, at his home in Lusaka.

Mr. Sakala is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The Board, Management and Staff of the Higher Education Authority extend their deepest condolences to Mr. Sakala’s family, friends and loved ones.

Mr. Sakala joined the Higher Education Authority on 1^st September, 2019, as an Office Assistant, the position he continued in until his death.

The Authority regrets to have lost a reliable and hardworking member of staff in Mr. Sakala. His remarkable, courteous, calm and welcoming smile endeared him to everyone that interacted with him.

In this dark and terrible moment, the Higher Education Authority prays that the Holy Spirit will comfort and strengthen Mr. Sakala’s family, friends, loved ones and work colleagues.

The funeral is being held in Kamwala, behind the Defence Services Command and Staff College and near the entrance of Zambia Institute of Special Education (ZAMISE).

More details will be availed for the burial as and when it is made available.

Contact:
Mrs. Annie Zulu Sitali
Human Resource Officer
Higher Education Authority
(+260) 977 727 000
annie.zulu@hea.org.zm

Send your messages of condolences by joining the conversation @HEAZambia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube using the hashtag #HEAZambia  #HigherEducationZambia, and visit our website, www.hea.org.zm, for ALL the information on higher education in Zambia.