Some UNZA students enraged by PF government’s decision to remove maize and fuel subsidies protested at ZNBC Wednesday mid-morning.
The students were however met by police officers in full riot gear deployed to ZNBC along Alick Nkhata road to maintain public peace.
The students carried placards denouncing the PF government and urging President Michael Sata to listen to the cries of the poor.
There placards also read that “PF is Bufi,” in reference to hit antigovernment song Bufi by Petersen and Pilato.
The students vowed to continue protesting until government rescinds its decision to remove the subsidies.
There is now a heavy presence of riot police on Great East road in Lusaka in anticipation of further student riots.
And Students at the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe have expressed displeasure with Government over its move to remove subside on both fuel and maize because this would ultimately have adverse effect on the value of meal allowance they are getting.
Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president Oscar Mbewe who also expressed his fellow students’ dissatisfaction with the proposed 26 per cent tariff increase said the increase in the price of fuel and electricity would definitely push upward the overall cost of production in the country.
Mr Mbewe said in Kitwe today the students were concerned that this would render the amount of money they were getting for meal allowance insignificant, as it would be of little value.
He said out of this realization, the students had embarked on an exercise of collecting signatures with the view to petitioning Government over the scrapped subside on fuel and maize.
“I have so far received petition from over 300 students who have appended the signatures and the idea is to hold a peaceful demonstration against the scrapped subsides on fuel and maize,” he said.
Mr Mbewe said current students’ meal allowances were already not sufficient given the ever increasing costs of essential products such as mealie meal.
“The amount of meal allowances we are getting is already meaningless looking at the prices of commodities, for example mealie meal we used to get it at K45, 000 and now it has gone up to over K60, 000,” Mr Mbewe said.
Go head on boys and girls….. let this cheaps feel your weight. if it means running battles just face them on behalf of the poor Zambians.
So you want them to fight your battles while you sit behind a computer like a coward??? Ooops sorry, I meant to say like the coward you are!
You fool… don’t you see that they are many and have an advantage….we are joining them soon… How can I stand up by my self and go to ZNBC… most of you domicle busy justifying the removal of subsides and you are just scratching your boos….
Baice naimwe kabiyeni kusukulu.You gain nothing from ukupena uko.
where is ruin police (RUPO)? come on guys run those battles that leads to closures as they send massages real loud……dialogue never work, thebridge at Unza resulted from a 6 day battle with the late Wazakaza HSRP we close for over a month but alas the bridge was built. VIVA ROADSIDE BA MONKU
lets fight these ruthless and heartless people..we need a Zambia that is free and habitable for all..viva student power!!
People want development and yet continue to want to enjoy subsidies. These chaps should be helping the government to explain to people why this needs to be done. It is going to be painful, yes, development comes at great cost. Ofcourse, the government needs to ensure that the most vulnerable are catered for. Maize is easy to grow, grow your own and stop buying NM or Choma Milling or whatever else is out there …. that is the only way the price will come down is by sticking it to the millers but the government shouldn’t continue to subsidize lazy a$$es who may as well help keep the price low. UNZA has a lot of land and you chaps have a lot of free time, instead of boozing, grow some maize and donate to the poor …
ulichipuba wechipumbu iwe, the pigs were voted on pro-poor governance not bufi
You do not need to remove subsidies which help the vulnerable in society.Just cut back on bloated Cabinet,By-elections,siphoning money through unreasonably high contracts for goods and services supplied by those with connections to Michael Sata.Let Fred M’membe and Mutembo Nchito pay back K14b public money to DBZ.Finally,ensure we get fair returns from our minerals from those exploiting them.
Walasa…lazy asses grow more food not enjoying subsidies chabe. Even in a home we kick out a grown ass lest abelesha talekula
Can you tell us if it is not true that the money saved from the removal of susidies is not going to the Ministers’ salaries and also fund the by – elections caused by your stupid PF Government. You fellows must own up and go before this country goes on fire. This counry will soon be ungovernable.
@CC IV
Tell your grand father zombie in the state house also .. to stop spending money for development on stupid bye elections….kupusa!
What’d you expect from the cream of the country who obtain entry in unza kuli leakage? They dont understand the meaning of subsid removal… half backed! Mwanawasa once said.
Growup my frnd and face de truth shud they also grow fuel and electricity on de same land.plz take their complts seriousily
Yaba ichisungu ba University Student! The chap failed to construct a simple sentence and will probably wonder why his application for a job was rejected sometime in the future.
hahaha you saw it! i laughed at this Uni student who wrote such a placard.
iwe bantu its anger…emotions are a boiling…hahahahahah
UNZA SAYS LISTEN US
are uh a! anger!.. iwe bantu…..hahahahah
Unza says “Listen Us” did anyone notice that? hmmm abena Zambia. na chizungu chimu vutani koma you want free rides lyonse.
he meant to say,’mverani ise’.
But he’s not a Muzungu…Even a Muzungu will understand what this chap is trying to convey.
What has suddenly happened to Pf pro-poor policies, ‘don’t play with that which makes someone feel satisfied’ or else inshila iyo….
THUS HOW WE STARTED IN 1991 WHEN KK WAS ON LEAVE. ACROSS THE ROAD, CHELSTONE ETC. WE HONE CHAINAMA DEFUNK NRDC MULUNGUSHI AND MEANINGFUL ZAMBIANS TO JOIN ON PEACE DEMONSTRATION TO PUT PRESSURE ON THIS GOOD GOVT.
NAIMWE BA POLICE BEHAVE
Popmwe, you are a m0ron, we should close UNZA and use the money we save to subsidize maize. You surely do understand that as a country, there are limited financial resources? The government cannot continue to subsidize everything. The truth of the matter is that there will never be a good time to remove these drainers on the national treasury. Now is as good( or as the case maybe) as bad a time as any. Yes, this move may cost the PF power in 2016, maybe earlier but somebody has to have the cajones to make the tough calls. That is leadership …. making the tough, unpopular calls. The conversation should be questioning the government how they will cater for the very vulnerable, the subsidies had to go without a doubt. I think all able bodied people should be able to grow their own food if…
they should have thought about that before rushing to lift the subsidy, dont you think? go to america and try to understand the health care system and the dole.
Removing subsidies and using the saved money on developmental projects and not by-elections are two different things.
Am saddened with what is coming out of the future leaders. They keep on complaining that they are being left out, now what of leadership are these students going to make if they cannot understand simple economics of the country and all they are crying for is their meal allowance. I think the dogs have gone to UNZA.
UNZA is not fit to be a University. Its students are the most pathetic in the entire universe.
CBU and UNZA should carry out massive demonstrations to send a clear message to this BUFI government…
These are the same kids who shouted”Pabwato”!! campaigning for Sata….. here is the change you wanted. I guess you have learnt a lesson, never give power to the uneducated, they cant handle it.
Yes they indeed they shouted pabwato!!! As they were able to build PF,they have the zeal to dismantle what they built!!!! Watch out PF.
In my last posting, I said watch this space! The PF Govt is not pro poor. We need to boot out this incompetent Govt. They are just busy sharing the loot in complete disregard for the poor people who put them there. I thought Michael would be a ‘stand out’ among the politicians! But no he is becoming worse than even Chiluba. The Church has gone silent. On behalf of whom do you speak? The time to speak is now and not wait until the situation becomes worse.
What happened to all the money Wynter Kabimba received on the Energy Requlation Board Commission of Enquiry. I thought the purpose of that Commission of Enquiry was to reduce the price of fuel. Was that not what they promised?
ati ba monk? always complaining about ubwali mukose….
wapya muzi… this is how things can start burnig out of control,,, thats how it happened in kaunda era..hhahah.,,those monks may seem like a small match sticks,, but the resulting effect,, the resulting fire can cause massive damage
It is time to revisit the whole concept of resettlement schemes … too many people waiting for handouts from the government … you can remove this government and the next few, the fact still remains, these subsidies will have to go sometime if we ever have to move forward. Yes, we also need to take care of the people that are most vulnerable. But if you are able bodied, go back to the land.
You voted alone now live with it till next time when you wont have graduated you will be too malnourished and under fed due to inability to buy the expensive mealie meal….so please go back and read students have no place in rational voting just more noise and tujilijili dont say you were not told.
Ba Monk, this is very serious!
We need Cow-Horn Formation Strategy this even.
VIVA MONK>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
VIVA MOJO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
VIVA Moma>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
VIVA MATURE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lets change the course of this country for the sake of posterity immediately
VIVA UNZASU>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How can a University Student honestly justify the buying of a 50Kg bag of maize at KR65 and selling it at KR60 therefore making a loss of KR5 per 50Kg bag? This is what caused the huge problems at FRA leading them to constantly making losses and GRZ diverting money that could have been used towards other social and welfare developmental projects to bail them out. As Wisi Boyi has said above it’s time to stamp out this culture of handouts now! I bet these UNZA chaps spend more money on booze than food. So all they are saying is that by increasing the price of Maize Meal you will be reducing the amount of money they can spend on booze.
IT IS INTERESTING WHEN UNZA STUDENTS GET CONCERNED WITH NATIONAL AFFAIRS. HOWEVER AS PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST LEARNED, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MUST HELP US UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHY THE SUBSIDY HAS BEEN REMOVED. FREE THINGS ARE CHEAP. BUT FOR HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE FREE THINGS? THE GRZ BUYS MAIZE AT Kr 65/BAG BUT SELLS IT TO MILLERS AT Kr 60/BAG. THE Kr 5 LOSS BY GRZ IS THE SUBSIDY HERE. THE ONLY MISTAKE THE GRZ HAS MADE IS NOT TO ENGANGE US IN EXPLAINING WHY THE SUBSIDY HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE MEASURES THAT WILL BE TAKEN TO CUSHION THE EFFECT OF THIS MOVE. OF COURSE THIS IS A BRAVE MOVE. AND THE OPPOSITON WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO FEAST ON.
HEY STUDENTS. YOUR ENGLISH ON THE POSTER IS POOR. WHAT DOES “UNZA SAYS LISTEN US” MEAN? ARE THESE UNZA STUDENTS OR UPND CADRES PICKED FROM…
Where does the government get its money from, is it not from us the citizens? The Government collects over Kr3000 as PAYE from my monthly salary and over Kr500 as tax on fuel I use every month so what is wrong with then giving me back Kr5 as subsidy on maize I eat? Is it not the governments responsibility to insure all our people can afford decent meals. S.tupid Proud Fool!
Iyo pa UNZA yalikosa, I just need money to get in pa UNZA. In the end you have students who can’t even construct a sentence bwino bwino. kikikiki awe mwe!
@Chisenga. They actually have if you read the other article on the same site relating to the removal of subsidies. What they now need to do is go around the country to explain to our relatives, who may be cheated by some political parties, exactly what this entails and the plans they have going forward. Unfortunately our ‘future leaders’ including some Council of Churches did not take time to read, analyse and understand the implications of what this decision means.
Here we go Sata! Ozakamba baba! You gone Sata! I told you, you honestly cannot survive with such a low IQ Sata.
Regardless you send intelligence officers, or you violent thugs, it wont work!
Zambians this time will be more violent than the 1986 food riots, your relatives Chief INJUSTICE Lombe Chibesakunda, Luo, Kabimba, Chikwanda, will be HANGED together with you in front of State house!
I just look forward to see you like the way Libyan Dictator Kadaffi was put in an empty meat cold room! NOT BREATHING!
Zambians are HUNGRY and they will fight with their hunger to chase you from Satehouse where you have made your satanism your ***** center piece
We the Zambian people voted you to fight corruption and not to continue with corrupt MMD bankrupt people like Namulambe
Sata and his PF corrupt leaders are busy barking like DOGS, while Zambia SUFFERS as if there is no leader.
Sata should know that, even Kadaffi of Libya used his intelligence agents to torment Libyans but he was killed
Sata is busy tormenting innocent LEGITIMATE Chiefs like Mwamba & instructing his ritual killers like PF Ngoma to terrorise Zambians.
I really love what am seeing coming to Sata and his evil henchmen & his family tree relatives in his GOVT
Zambians wont spare u guys, they are angry because they are HUNGRY from lack of Money & FOOD which they cannot afford
Policemen, Soldiers, Intelligence officers, Guards, poor people are all suffering & dying! The only people who are not suffering is Sata and his PF criminals leaders like LUO & Chief INJUSTICE Lombe…
Its saddening to see our future leaders and intellectuals being cry babies of the nation. Instead of thinking of new ideas to remedy the situation which was in Inevitable they are busy crying for Nshima. And we have bafoons on this blog supporting such. God help Zambia
@Musokonjinga. Instead of just changing their diet from Nshima to potatoes and continuing with their studies they decide to go and disrupt other people who are working hard to earn a leaving. Then there is the forever annoying blogger (just before you) who can not think rationally (possibly looney) but somehow the Australian Medical authorities allow him access to a PC every so often to post crap!
Can God give us a leader that is very strong and a nosense one because Zambians especially the so called educated are lazy,corrupt,noncreative,non innovative but creatures who want to live like kings and queens for their stipudity. l am not pf .
You sound you are suffering from something related to PTSD! Find help.
“When we revolt it’s not for a particular culture. We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe”
? Frantz Fanon
kumalilangoma ukoooo !!
What i mean is Zambians u are not realistic. l have been against subsides which have proved detrimentle to our development .What u must ask is prudent of the resources. U need a dictator 4 u are rigid. Educated thieves and thugs. Unza gongas!
as a member of RUPO in 1990/91……..deloleshafye!
presdent sata campaign mesege was about the poor now i dont know i chikuku nga chilpwa,basata lyonse ebaleisha ilwimbo lwakwa pk pamulandu wabunga,bushe webuteko waisa mukutwipaya ?mwatwelele at more money kanshi kutopoka money in our pokets. nga mwalunda fyonse how are we going to suevive naimwe ba pf mwatampa amono yabaMMD twalichulile pali campaign twamisala mwabwela mwatwalukila tatwatala atuposapo nechimbala. i dont understand you peole just becouse you you can manege inee umweshi wapwa i have never bout any bag of meal meal. thuss why next time………………………………..
There was massive financial waste…GRZ expenditure on this was increasing, maize production was increasing, yet there were mealie meal shortages and prices were increasing! Who were the real beneficiaries?…middle men and millers!
A well designed direct cash transfer system to the poor would be more effective in alleviating their suffering, the only problem is- who can be trusted to distribute cash in this land of thieves!
Food for thought: there is no subsidy on cassava, millet and sorghum
AZAANDA KOMBONI DUGUDE….
Which development can come from removing subsides you morons? That is cheap reasoning or lack of it.FTJ told you to tighten your belts! what was the end product? You should learn from the like of daniel Munkombwe.
What development can come from removing subsides?
Answer: The Development of more money in personal Accounts for MP’s, Sata’s, Ministers & Deputy Ministers.
You must be the one holding up that banner in the photo!
Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure Faka Pressure
This is pressure from external bodies such as the IMF and World Bank. I read a few months ago that a House of Commons committee was concerned about the money Zambia spent on subsidizing Maize. Whilst this might seem like a good thing to those of us who believe in pure economics and free markets I cant help but feel that this was a move forced by some one else. No credible explanation has been given for the removal. I see a U turn. Just think about it people. All governments around the world are involved in subsidizing agriculture products. Common Agriculture policy in the EU the Indians with their rice etc. Yes a lot of money is spent but the benefit is that food is cheaper. In Economics agriculture policy is one of the most difficult things to tame. Not sure if free market schemes work.
DUDE! A LAZY WORKER BLAMES HIS TOOLS. NO NEED TO FIND EXCUSES FOR PF. THEY HAVE ALREADY PUT THE ROPE AROUND THEIR NECK. ONLY THING LEFT IS NOW TO KICK THE STOOL FROM UNDER THEIR FEET…THEN…..!!!!!!!!
Very good analysis. But remember, the World BANK is acting as a proxy here. See who is pulling the strings behind them and for what purpose. And bonse ba li ndwi!
@LusakaBoy. Your analysis is amazing! Wealthy nations such as the USA and EU dont susidise consumption and middlemen, but production (farmers). Thats why in the US, they can dump wheat into the sea to keep prices high so that their farmers remain profitable.
Here, in Zambia, we simply cant afford to continue on this path. With all the money pumped over the years in subsidies, why havent millers or fuel dealers reduced prices? This shows that a greater percentage of the subsidies is only making very few big shots richer by the day while ordinary Zambians’ lives have not changed.
So here is an opportunity to be able to save and channel money to opening other areas so that these crying UNZA lazy students can find jobs once they graduate with their pathetic degrees.
Zambia’s dependency on donors has declined to a level where the donors cannot dictate to her. No need to find scapegoats, just go to plot one and you will find the man in charge of this country and its economy…its not somebody in Washington DC!
i am just loving all this maddness! viva Sata! show the Zambian people that you are made of ice! continue doing the ‘dont kubeba’!. people voted for that! continue the good work Mr. Man of action!
“Listen us”. UNZA is finished.
yes! i am just loving all this maddness! sata! continue messing up the country & continue to show us your true colors!
Am really enjoying too…pabwaatoooo
That sentence was written by a UNZA student??
Sweet baby Jesus, hold me.
…and that is before he starts starving!
“That sentence was written by a UNZA student?? ” is Zambian English
Yes prudent use of resources is what u should demand. Look at dese demagogues. U can only deceive dese dull students.KK gave subsidies heavely but where did it take him ? Nowhere !De very pipo he was spoon feeding turned against him. Stupidy Zedians!
no. its stupidy you. subsidies are benefits for the poor. which country in southern Africa doesnt have subsidies for its poor people? which?
Its very surprising that students who are supposed to understand economic issues better are in the forefront parading their ignorance. They should press Government to direct the monies saved to worthy causes. If we tightened our belts during the Mwanawasa HIPC period why not now. They demonstrated against refurbishing thier hostels and today the whole place looks fit for human habitation.
hehehehe! cant you use common sense why this is happening? its because PF promised them heaven on earth. thats the problem with lies. it comes with a price to pay
Albert, stop behavng like a dog on heat otherwise u’l end up claiming that yo mother is a virgin.Wat economics do u want students to explain?Even a grade 2 understands the consequences of the removal of subsidies on fuel and maize but you choose to reason using yo cloaca on this platform…moron
No wonder de so called students end up being white color thieves .A situation where u have even lecturers dat are pompwes e.g. Sasa. Why can’t dese parasites go round and explain de demerits nd merits of govt’s actions instead of deir babarianism?
sorry dude. that just wont happen…unless they are abnormal people who rejoice in suffering. like you ofcorse
“We want change, we want change, we want change, we want change!!!!!!” Those were the slogans chanted during the sept 2011 elections…Were is the change now???
Ifilya balanda ati Vote wisely, moneni nomba….Ala kwena bane tefiweme.
This reminds me of my dad’s old time stories that they used to line up for mealie meal. I am foreseeng this very soon. We will start quieng up for commodiries.
Electricity ni loadsheding, fuel prices its a mess, transport charges worse, public rallies with permission, mealie meal prices escalating, groceries nifikwela.
Soon “we want change slogans will erupt”
May be 2016….
When mealie meal gets too expensive, why complain when you can switch to eating pasta which is cheaper!!?
Osmore is a die hard PF fool can’t use his head, this has a very negative effect . You talking about essentials and giving someone susidy is not laziness but the duty of any
Responsible goverment besides the goverment collects money everyday , they can shed off all that excess expenditure instead of trying to shed off those that relate to the lively wood of people
PF think they can walk on water and are untouchable. They have irritated our neighbours, Nurses, doctors, Gays,Bus drivers, Chiefs,Priests, Street vendors, poor people and now the students. So let’s just unite and remove probably the worst government we’ve seen in Zambia todate. In a none corrupt country, removal of subsidy on essentials and diverting the money to other projects can be justified. Not in Zambia where government wastage and corruption is rampant. Holt the expensive bye-elections and random finger pointing projects that pop up just to deceive the electorate if you are serious about saving money. If Europe can subsidse it’s rich farmers then why can’t we do it for our poor people?
STUDENTS THESE DAYS ARE AMAZING. UNZA HAS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. THE HANDFUL OF STUDENTS HERE CANNOT REPRESENT ALL THE STUDENTS AT UNZA. SO WE WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF ANOTHER GROUP OF STUDENTS RISES UP TO CLAIM THAT THE ONES WHO WENT TO ZNBC DO NOT HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF THEIR FRIENDS. JUST WAIT.
I strongly supot subdisin production not consuption,I ws once against bt av undstd