Pictured at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Western New Mexico University and the Bemba tribe of Zambia are (left to right) Western New Mexico University Chairperson Jerry Walz, His Majesty Chitimukulu Sosala Kanyanta Manga II, New Mexico Lt. Governor John Sanchez and Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard.Silver City, NM – Western New Mexico University President Dr. Joseph Shepard and His Majesty Chitimukulu Sosala Kanyanta Manga II, the king of Zambia's largest ethnic group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the intention of exploring the possibility of bringing higher education opportunities to the Bemba people both online and in face-to-face classes.

After months of discussion, President Shepard, WNMU Board of Regents Chairperson Jerry Walz and Manga II signed the Memorandum of Understanding at a meeting in Albuquerque on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Witness to the signing was Patrick Mapalo, Zambia Hon. Consul and New Mexico/American Emissary to Manga II. Also in attendance was New Mexico Lt. Governor John Sanchez, who is a longtime supporter of and will soon receive an honorary doctorate from WNMU.

In response to Manga II's desire to increase and enhance higher education for the 6 million Bemba-speaking people of the south-central African nation of Zambia, WNMU will look into providing accelerated online education and investigate the possibility of establishing a higher education campus in Zambia.

This Memorandum of Understanding is the result of ongoing conversation between representatives of Manga II and WNMU, who have discussed WNMU's online offerings and are also considering the potential for Zambian students to enroll in classes at the university's main campus in Silver City.

"We hope that we at Western New Mexico University are able to provide higher educational opportunities to the people of Zambia," President Shepard said.

Walz added, "This is a project that we will look at one step at a time. We are impressed with the Zambian officials' desire to improve the quality of life in their country. Western New Mexico University has touched many parts of the world, and hopefully we find a way to help educate the Bemba people."

Manga II has been in New Mexico as part of a goodwill and resource program focused on advancing Zambia's educational opportunities, particularly for women and the Bemba-speaking people, who constitute 21 percent of Zambia's population, according to a 2010 census. While in the state, Manga II has visited with various tribal governors, state and city officials, and educational leaders.

Manga II was born in the Bemba Royal Family as Henry Kanyanta Sosala. He was appointed to the Mpepo throne in 1997, ascended to the Mwamba throne in 2007 and to the Chitmukulu throne by 2013, taking the Kanyanta Manga II name after Chitmukulu Kanyanta I (1925-1945), who was his grandfather.

In Zambia, the Chitimukulu throne, ruling the 18 semiautonomous Bemba kingdoms, is the most powerful politically and also the most influential among Zambia's government.