The Duo, Francis Liuma and Bester Kacheche were lecturing in the Department of Land Surveying and Physical Planning respectively.

According to the Head of Department, Felemont Kayulayula Banda these two members of staff have been mentoring younger lecturers because of their vast experience.

“These lecturers were among the founding members of the department and Mr Kacheche was also part of the team that formed the Physical Planning curriculum. While Mr Liuma was one of the registered Land Surveyors in Malawi,” Banda explained.

He also said that these two members have mentored younger members of staff by encouraging them to go back to school to further their education.

 One of the retired lecturers, Francis Liuma who has been a lecturer since 2000 described his experience at the Polytechnic as a mixture of events. 

He explained that in the beginning it was challenging since he was coming from being a mere civil servant and he had never been in a classroom set up.

“In the beginning, all the built environment programs were being offered to diploma level, people had to go overseas for a degree. That is when we documented the establishment of the faculty so that it should reach the degree level,” Liuma explained 

He also expressed his contentment in his achievements through which he said some of his students who went overseas for post graduate studies are back at the University as lecturers.

“One of my students is the current Surveyor General; others are lecturers like Happy Chilembwe, Chikondi Mphamba and many more who are working in the government and the private sector.

An associate lecturer in the Faculty of Built Environment Nsimenye Mwafongo, described these two gentlemen as people who were hard working and knowledgeable. As a young lecturer he has learned a lot from them in addition, he sees them as his mentors.

The Faculty of Built Environment presented the duo with gifts and a farewell party.