Mona Lisa eyes UNZASU Vice Presidency

For Mona Lisa Phiri, a third-year Public Relations and Advertising student at the University of Zambia (UNZA), leadership is not a new ambition, it is a journey she has been on for years. Better known as Moma Wa Data (UNZA female student vested with information) ,Phiri is now seeking to take that experience into student […]

For Mona Lisa Phiri, a third-year Public Relations and Advertising student at the University of Zambia (UNZA), leadership is not a new ambition, it is a journey she has been on for years.

Better known as Moma Wa Data (UNZA female student vested with information) ,Phiri is now seeking to take that experience into student leadership as she contests the UNZA Students Union(UNZASU) Vice President position in elections scheduled for Friday, September 11, 2026, at Great East Road Campus.

Phiri describes herself as a leader, public speaker, media personality, former radio presenter and event coordinator, with years of experience in content creation and advocacy.

She says her decision to contest was not triggered by a single incident at UNZA, but by self-reflection and what she believes is a leadership gap.

“I saw that I am qualified, I am a qualified and experienced leader and I believe I can do so much,” Phiri states with confidence.

At the centre of her campaign are three central issues she believes continue to affect students such as inadequate Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), limited study spaces and accommodation challenges.

On accommodation, Phiri says she will push for the commissioning of new hostels by the next academic year, arguing that students should return to campus to find additional rooms available.

She also proposes practical alternatives to conventional study infrastructure, including more benches, chairs, stands and other portable facilities to expand spaces where students can study.

On Wi-Fi, Phiri believes the solution requires stronger engagement with UNZA, noting that students pay for the service hence deserve accountability when it is not available. But beyond infrastructure and services, Phiri says her biggest priority is presence.

She wants to be a Vice President who is visible and accessible to students, particularly during times of crisis.

“I want to be a leader who is really there for the students because I am someone who believes that presence matters,” she says in a calmly and soft voice.

For Phiri, leadership should not only be confined to offices or social media updates but on the ground, listening to students, responding to their concerns and facing challenges alongside them.

She however, admits that the journey will not be easy but insists that her approach will be collective rather than individual.

“This is not an individual journey, it is not something I can do alone,” she says, adding that If elected, wants her legacy to be simple,  a leader who created a clear platform for students and remained present even when circumstances became difficult.

“No matter how difficult it gets, I want them to know that I will be there. Even when things get tough, at least you will know that I was there and that I tried, ” she says passionately.

For the woman known as Moma Wa Data( UNZA Female student vested with information), her message is clear the purpose is UNZA and the students come first.