UNESCO has donated $340,000 to the University of Zambia to develop a study program for the safeguarding of intangible heritage.

Intangible heritage includes practices such as witchcraft, social practices such as expression through music, knowledge, skills, instruments, artifacts, and rituals, said the Zambian National Commission for UNESCO.

According to Charles Ndakala, the Secretary-General of the said commission, despite efforts to safeguard cultural heritage, there are cases of invaluable destruction of this heritage in some countries where traditions and customs are threatened.

Zambianobserver reports that 20 students have already registered to attend classes on witchcraft. Last November, the Minister of Higher Education, Professor Nkandu Luo, announced that Zambia should consider research and the study of witchcraft as a science that can be used productively for the good of the country.

Professor Luo said that Zambian scientists should follow the example of their South African colleagues who have started studies on sorcery in some universities.