ZAMBIAN HEAD OF STATE DECLINES DOCTORATE TITLE AFTER BEING CONFERRED WITH DOCTORATE DEGREE

President Rupiah Banda has said that he will not use the title of Doctor, despite being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in political science by Rusangu University, a Seventh Day Adventist-owned university.

According to a statement issued yesterday by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, the President says he wants to maintain the title of Mr although he appreciates the gesture by Rusangu University to confer a doctorate on him.

At the function the President Banda said he was deeply touched to be bestowed with an honorary doctorate degree in political science by a local university.

Rusangu University chancellor Harrinton Akombwa said the university had decided to confer Mr Banda with the honorary doctorate degree because of his political and economic contribution to Zambia’s development.