Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa says it is outlawed for any student to opt to rent an apartment outside the campus unless he is staying with genuine guardians or parents.
This follows an uproar over accommodation by students at the recently upgraded Mulungushi University in Kabwe where students protested against management’s decision to stop them from renting accommodation in the lecturers’ township.
Professor Lungwangwa maintained that students should be accommodated in hostels within the campus.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Prof. Lungwangwa said government would not condone a situation students abandon hostels within campus in preference for apartments outside campus.
‘’I condemn the behaviour of Mulungushi University students in the strongest terms. It is illegal for any student to rent a house outside the campus. Appropriate action shall be taken against the concerned students,’’ Prof. Lungwangwa said.
The students at Mulungushi University protested that it was not right for Mulungushi University Management to stop some of the colleagues from renting accommodation in the lecturers’ township because they could not afford to pay the high fees that the University is charging for the hostels.
The students blocked the main entrance to the University with logs and lit bonfires in front of the main gate stopping any vehicle from entering the campus on the Great North Road.
Other students besieged the main administration, pulled the national flag to half-mast and chanted anti-management slogans against their Vice Chancellor Vernon Chinene.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has maintained that government is not in a position to scale up the meal allowances for students at the University of Zambia.
Prof. Lungwangwa said an agreement between the students and Bursaries Committee states how much government can afford to extend to the students.
He said government has limited recourses which are spread to many other competing needs.
And Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has challenged the media to write positively on the education sector.
He observed that Journalists have a tendency of writing negative stories on the education sector despite positive gains scored in the sector
The Unza cancer is now mushrooming at the new Versity. Soon they will also start throwing stones to passing vehicles. Can management quickly identify the culprits and set an example to would be offenders before the situation goes to the dogs?
How embarrassing for a full Minister to be so ignorant about how students live the whole world over. Worse, HE IS MAKING A LAW WHICH DOES NOT EXIST!!!! It is people like him who drag our beautiful & proud country through the mud as if the country has no educated sons & daughters!!! ……I, mean, just try to pronounce his name, it’s a sort of a give away…!
#2, Ba Minsiter wesu chisoso. He doesn’t know that students all over the world stay on or off compus. Its even cheaper to stay off compus. The problem is that our leaders just talk so that they appear in news papers or on TV even if they are talking nosense.
WHICH LAW ARE THE STUDENTS BREAKING?IF NO SUCH LAW EXISTS WHO GIVES HIM THE RIGHT TO THREATEN AND HARASS THE POOR STUDENTS?FOR A MAN OF SUCH LOFTY ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS HE HAS SWOWN APPALLING IGNORANCE.
#2&3, i would be lying to say more than you have said. You are very right.
This Minister is INSANE. WHAT A COUNTRY!! YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT THINK LIKE THAT. OH MY!! GOG HELP US
Matumbo yanu!!
dammmm….his ass chilling in a nice expensive house with his fam.. and he has the balls to tell students not to rent outside campus!!!!.dammmm… ifwe twalibutuka ku ATL chilling..
I have been saying all along that there is no government in Zambia but a collection of economic hooligans.
Please God give us leaders. we have too many *****s in government. Can this ***** explain to us what is wrong with students staying off compus? It is emberassing to be Zambian sometimes.
Agreed to all of you what the hell is wrong with this former Chancellor of the biggest University. No wonder UNZA is what it is tiday, if this is the kind of management we had, then we are doomed. Universities are academic instutitions not estate management. If UNZA and all Universities in Zambia concentrated on their core business, you would imagine they would be sanity at these places.
The Govt# 10, I don’t blame you for your comments. Everyday we read about comedy in our Zambian news. A minister in this day and age to make such stupid comments. Where did these guys go to school. Someone tell me please. I am about to explode!!
it is cheaper to rent a kabbobba than paying alot of moneys on boding.pliz minister the cost of living is just too high.let those who cant afford use initiative.
he is just an ***** minister. he should go to unza and see how mnany unza students rent houses in kalundu and kalingalinga. let the students chose their own housing arrangements since the govt has been failing.
HK this chap is former DVC, he knows what is going, you know Mwanawasa much as he is trying to be a better President the KWB (Kafupi Wa Bufi), the man just has the wrong choice of politicians in his ministrial positions, and this is what makes him a not very good president when compared with the best.
#1 you see why these problems become insurmountable with time, instead of solving the problem, your Minister is being evasive, and students being what they are they will run to Kabwe road and stone a few vehicles and that being a highway the consequences can be dire. Here the Minister has erred.
Yaba! This Prof Lungwangwa is an embarrassment.What is happening to logic.He is too insane
This is the kind of behaiviour you expect from miniters when they can not think for themselves but remote controlled. They even lose analytical skills
He even has the guts to undress himself in public. Chilifontini sana.
They luck exposure,always the zambian way.Someone should escort him to zim or just South africa since these are within reach, am sure a day tour would be enough for the egnorant minister.
Lungwangwa no wonder you fail even in yo own house, how can a person like yu be a minister? varsity education is not about estate agents! REDUCE the room rates and students will stay on campus. fool…..
Words fail me on the depth of ignorance of this so called “Prof” We really need to check on his credentials – someone check please ASAP as we can’t afford further cock ups. This man gives academics a bad name. Has this prat never heard of free choice? If the campus accommodation is not seen as value for money, the students will “vote with their feet.” It’s not rocket science. I am so shocked at the s**t this man has come with that I will give him the benefit of doubt and conclude he must have been “misquoted” as surely a Prof can’t be that provincially minded and stupid!! Gosh, I need to lie down now and take a tablet I’m that mad. God help us.
Afunta former DVC!
This statement by the Minister is very SAD. Someone said that this is why UNZA has been run sadly since the man was DVC.
However, it is not too late for Mr Lungwangwa to apologise or resign on moral grounds for failng the government. I think, it is high time our public servants started taking stock of their mistakes and make sound decisions for the good of the National.
If this case was in football terms, the MOE Minister’s statement was going to be an offside.
pipo appointed to key positions must have passed simple home management. otherwise the country will have simpletons with lofty qualifications as leaders but lack common sense and full of nothing but nonsense. Pofessor who?
Goeffrye,are you offering alternative accomodation to students who can’t afford to pay high fees?
So much for a ”Professor”.
Its so embarrasing to hear such words come from a professor who was actually once a Deputy Vice Chancellor for UNZA.
Why should it be illegal for students to choose where they live?
If the cheaper option is off campus why not go for it.
God!! These pipo are not fit to be our leader!
And he is a Professor of what, you never know if Late Prof Goma studied a mosquitoe and got a professorship for it, maybe this man studied FAILURE and he has a professorship in FAILURE, someone help us.
beta stil reduce the exhorbitant accomodation fees. NOTE the students who are protesting are those who where there before the college changed its NAME.
In fact in his time at UNZA under the excellent Prof. Serpell, he was always the centre of controversy. He once told students: ”varsity education is a privilege of those who can afford it” Commenting further that: ”if you come from a village, ask your headman to mobilise fellow villagers to donate chickens to aid your eduaction” he told students protesting non payment of project allowances.
You guys have made all the points. There is nothing much to add. It seems every time a minister opens their mouth, what comes out is unbelievable. They have already failed UNZA, now they are going to do the same to this new varsity. Not even universities in developed countries can afford to house all the students. This man forces several students to share a small campus room. Some of these student are old enough to get married. So why do they need guardians? No wonder they produce graduates who still expect to be handed jobs on a plate like small boys. Treat students like responsible adults and they will behave likewise.
This Villager Minister should be fired ASAP. The problem with Presi- LPM is that he apoints people based on ‘silly’ criteria like tribe, qualifications and where MMD got the most votes in elections, which is wrong.
I have always said that having academic qualifications does not make you an automatic leader.
There are a lot of people that can do a better job than this guy. In today’s 21st century, Zambia can turn its education sector into a multi million dollar industry by simple application of ideas that have been done else where in the world. I’m sure this guy is busy stealing that is why he can’t concentrate on his job, FIRE HIM!!
we really have a very dull minister in education. allover the world students rent accommodation outside campus if they wish so. this man has not perfomed as we expected him to do.
My sentiments have been echoed. Furthermore, what is wrong with renting accomodation off campus.
Iwe Lungwangwa, let those who want to rent outside campus do so, check out from other universities, you ll be spooked.Just concentrate on improving the quality of education & its too early for demos at the newly opened varsity.
Foolish!!
So, the minister is that stupid not realise how students want to help the grz? How can that be? Anywhere you go in the world universities cannot afford to accommodate entire student polpulace. So, a student is at liberty to rent any property (room) of his/her choice. How can the whole lot of a minister be ignorant of this. #1, you ve never been outside the country. Thats why you sound so negative about the students’ economic, wise and intelligent manouvre. They are simply assisting the unthoughtful govt. Let the boys and girls cut costs and property owners make some extra income. And you minister, wake up.
I didn’t know there was a university in Kabwe. Thats news to me(Good news)
Such statements from the government are what prompts UNZA students to riots in amok manner. It appears basic research into issues pertaining to the normal well-being of us Zambians does not exist in the MINDS of some of our Minsters and public servants.
Please political public servant leaders, learn to ‘think, before you ink or speak’ before embarrassing yourselves and our great nation.
Let you help our young Citizens to respect you elders or people in responsible offices.
BY THE WAY LT, TECHNOLOGY IS VERY CHEAP NOW. TO ADD FLAVOUR TO YOUR EDITORIALS, SHOW IMAGES/PICTURES OF OBJECTS (people, buildings, roads, farms, airports, state house, universities/colleges, hospitals, to name but a few). For instance, bloggers would like to know which fool is this lungwagwa.
#36 Mulungushi University former National College for Development and Management Studies (NCDMS I think), and formermost President Citizenship College (PCC). They have a capable professor there, I am sure Lungwangwa just wants Prof Chinene to fail like he did at UNZA.
Brilliant Idea Peter or LT can refer us to these free photo hosting sites where someone can find an album of the photos related to that story.
Peter on second thoughts Lungwangwa is not exactly the definition of a humanbeing (looks) so his photo would scare away would be bloggers (LOL).
But……Lungwangwa is a PHD holder i.e. a professor for that matter. Why has he failed to provide leadership in the education sector?? He is highly educated, but bunda bwa kunyenga other people’s wives…makaka uyuu!
Remember, in the recent past, he divorced his wife and it was in the Post.
#39, you are spot-on on the Mulungushi University history though I am not very sure about the actual names.
ati shani..lol.. oh my i cant even type im laughing so hard.. iye ba minister.. ok i need to look up Zed law in case im mistaken.. ILLEGAL?? staying off campus?? since when?? oh my.. thats some comedy for u right there..
#42, since PhD is a degree of conferred on research achievements, it therefore follows that some PhD’s do not necessarily give someone the analytical mind that is desired in a leader.
This is why I am on record advocating that let engineers, natural scientists and economists take the lead in managing our country. While I appreciate the role of social scientists, I feel that they need to be in the support structures – please no hard feelings.
We need people who will have the interest of the masses at heart i.e. selfless individuals who are bent on being inclusive of everyone.
I read in paper a small western African country maybe Togo is building two new Universities. GRZ have failed to run two small varsities.CBU and UNZA. And one ‘clever’ Prof said Oh.. do you see what I see!!! A small cluster buildings in Kabwe where UNIP used to have braai.. Is UNIP still going ther. No. Wala!!! this must be our third University.. let me phone the Presido. Sir.. I have discovered another University… . The Presido…are you sure Prof you’re not taking about discovering a copper mine. Prof.. No it is University ..fully intact with student hostels. And Sir I have a name… Mulungshi UNZA. The Presido.. Prof I trust your Judgement.pls infor parl. I have a call from Stupid Mugabe
Lungwangwa is insane, hence take him to Chainama. It is an embarassment for him to say what he said. It reals what Chisamba MP said about some MPs or minister who are just protecting their jobs. I expected the acting Vice chancellor Prof. Chinene and Lungwangwa to discuss this issue before running to the press. It is known world wide that sudents can choose where to be accommodated especially at our three universities which have inadequate accommodation. Some students come from their parents home every day. I wish lungwangwa could read these comments in this blog in order to update himself. He is making a very big mistake by his foolish and misleading comment. What a gullible minister!!!!!!
#1 – 47, you are all very too extremely extensively gigantically right and correct. The whole blog has rightly cried foul on this dude. He must be insane. Please God save Zed from such educated ignorants…creating laws that don’t and should not exist. How comical indeed.
Ba Professor ! iyoo elyo lwanya! What kind of thinking is this? Certainly not they kind you expect from a PHD holder not even a form 5 will think like our ‘Hon’ ‘Professor’ Minister……..Can his employers fire the incompetent chap!
Let the students exercise their rights. Econimcally it makes sence so long as the off campus are conducive for living and studying. the university can even help by inspecting the premises like what one university in Lusaka is doing. I dont think the versity has resources to build hostels to accommodate all the students. students are in a way helping the institution. maybe we are too educated to see that. It is however wrong for students to start renting rooms from their lectures
Imwe, in Zambia, you do not have to publish Journals, books and the like to become a Professor; you just have to know who is on the promotion panel, work your ass doing the same thing over and over. You will be appointed. I know of 3 Professors in the CBU whose publications are no where, yet they are Professors. So Lungwangwa has never kept renewing his knowledge academically. I keep telling you ati tuli ba Kolwe sana, because we have allowed such things to happen. Indimidation is good mgment as far as Zambia is concerned. Every country deserves its Leaders, ba Kolwe ba Mpili!!
How could an “EDUCATION MINISTER” be so ignorant? It is scarey to think of what will become of our educational standards with such people in charge. Let me be the first to call for his dismisal.
LEVY SHOULD FIRE THIS MINISTER FOR BEING LAW IGNORANT…WHERE DID HE DO TO SCHOOL? MANY STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD LIVE IN APARTMENT BY THEMSELVES…WITH NO PARENTS/GUARDIANS..WHAT A SHAME TO EDUCATION…THEY WANT STUDENTS TO STAY IN HOSTELS SO THAT THEY CAN CHARGE THEM ACCOMODATION FEES TO FINANCE THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
as i always say we are starved of leaders in africa. another monkey in an elephant’s government.shameful
This chap called Lungwangwa is a mad fellow.He needs to be removed from the ministry.He suffers from diarrhoea of words.May be he needs chipolopolo in his head.
HOW CAN LEVY FIRE THIS DUDE WHEN OUR OWN PRESIDENT IS DULL!!!!
MMD IS CAT POOP
It is unfortunate that Lungwangwa is even a proffessor but doesn’t not understand that renting outside is acceptale everywhere in the world.
Which university granted him that academic title?I question it.
Let the minister be advised that,this is what happens even in the developed countries such as Aus where am currently studying and the world over.Accommodation here with uni’s is charged per day and the minimum being $40.Studies are not forced to stay where they feel they cannot stay for whatever reasons for that matter. You want to bring a law that does not exist?It is people like u,Mr Edu minister how hinder the country and the all process of changing the way things should done to go forward.So if u r stopping the students frm founding cheaper accommodation for themselves,what r u tryin to achieve.I must say you are very sleepy Mr. chi Edu minter,wake up things r changing,dick head!
I have failed to understand the so called professor, instead of addressing the issue of high fees for accomodation he is creating confusion. who is he to be controlling students private life his concern should be academic. Student have the right to stay were they want. Let us not think if we afford then everyone can afford.
This guy is not a professor he’s a street adult.
ACC to probe Lungwangwa’s professorship. He should have got through corruption. I do not expect a person who was once deputy vice chancellor at our big university to utter such nosense. Only a lunatic, hence take him to Chainama and give him a bucket with holes to draw water from the tap. Did he do his Ph. D.? Prof.Geofrey Lungwangwa Ph. D. What is his field of specialization?
I said before and I will say it again. Our ministers seriously need periodic performance appraisals of which they will be asked to resign if found incompetent. So many years of self governance and we still get such bull***t from a Prof’. Shame on us…
Let the students have the freedom to decide? free market? why should they be forced to pay more for accomodation, yet there’s a cheap alternative? we understand Mulungushi is a self sustaining institution.
this ***** does not even know the Zambian Law. What Law has been breached?
Please Mr president address the problem, the so called ministers haven’t even read the Law of Zambia. totally incompetent ministers they should be fired.
how many ministers are actually familiar with the Law of Zambia? *****s!!!!
Instead of threatening students who leave outside students hostels we need to learn from other African countries where University accommodation has been privatised.
Those in government should not think about themselves all the time. Please solve the problems affecting the studies. How can you say that you can´t increase the BCs while food prices are shooting up each day. How are the studying going to survive and do well in class.
Please let the poor students rent out the school campus so that we can have a lot of graduates in the country. Please think about this.
Zambian’s let’s give room to our young brothers and sisters ,they want to further their education, but politics is demanding parental guidance. the problem we have in zambia is that we are not certain about the responsibility age somebody has to reach to be independent.I suggest 18!
I just wish LPM surfs on LT. He’d get better advice from here than from his so called ‘competent’ ministers.
64. Point on, most ministers don’t even know there constitution that govern the country and 62 man you are damn! right, let them prove there capable.
#40, Mwiinga, thanks for your support. But, again you made me laugh at your next comment at #41. You made it sound like Lungwagwa is an alien. Anyway, All the same many people would like to know and view these animals.
#42, you are spot on. Zambia needs engineers and technologists more than any other time. The most important degrees are (according to my opinion), are the first and second-1st degree, and a master. Although, in engineering and technology, even the Phd is very crucial. Its only muci kwalakwala where things really start to blur in the Phd stage. Don’t get me wrong. This is not pour water on these faculties. But, pls, don’t study mosquitoes at Phd level. Even a Grade seven can dissect a mosquito. But, a study of a mosquito with the intention to get rid of malaria would be meaningful.
Ah When was the university opened…thats something good for the country…BUT!!
Uyo minister, please let your advisers make your speeches pantu vo kamba kamba we dont want….Its very embarrasing to find such news as a top story especially from here in cuba….
Fire Him!!!!!
wat kind of law is that…
New Passports next month
The Issuance of new passports is expected to start next month.
Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta said the government has already put into place necessary logistics such as equipment for the entire process which kick start’s in July.
She told ZNBC news that training and recruitment of staff who will mann the new office is expected to start this month end.
The Home Affairs Permanent Secretary noted that Zambia decided to join the international community by bringing in a new passport with sophisticated features that cannot be forged.
LOPO YAKO MINSTER NA PROFESSOR
MINISTER IN CHENDE
MINISTER NA PROFESSOR NYOKOSTA
illigal? What a shame ! What reasons has he put across that makes it illigal to stay off-campus? Damn.
crap
I have a gut feeling the Minister has not been quoted correctly. Students the world over are allowed to rent accommodation units outside campus. But most, if not all, universities forbid the sub-letting of their staff houses to all and sundry including students. Does Mulungushi University allow lecturers to sub-let houses that belong to the institution? This question must be clarified before the Minister is condemned left, right and centre.
Yap, they call him prof’ with such thinking can such a prof’ even be aware of climate change?
abash lungwangwa! am calling for his resignation.the man is foolishly nincompetent.i wonder how he became a proffessor in education.
the prof must be talking about secondary school pupils..its impossible that he dont knw about accomodation
what ever goes up must come down
# 80, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION I HAD IN MIND. IF I QOUTED THE MINISTER CORRECTLY, STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RENT ACCOMODATION IN THEIR LECTURER’S TOWNSHIPS. TO ME, ANYTHING RENTED ELSEWHERE IS OKEY!HE WOULD ONLY SHOW IGNORANCE IF HE MAINTAINS TO SAY NO ANY KIND OF RENTING IS ALLOWED IN THE ZAMBIAN LAW.THERE IS NO SUCH A LAW. BA MINISTER, LEARN TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN THESE INSTITUTIONS RATHER THAN JUST OFFERING SHORT CUTS TO STOP RIOTS. IF ACCOMOMDATION IS EXPENSIVE, REDUCE COST AND /OR PROVIDE MORE ROOMS.
If students were allowed to opt for off-campus living, UNZA was not going to be experiencing the so called over-enrollement. It’s over-enrollement due to a shortage of on-campus housing. Some universities all over the world do not have on-campus housing but help students to negotiate for cheaper housing with potential landlords. Lungwangwa is a disappointment for showing such ignorance!
A foolish minister, even when you go to england you have students leaving off camous in houses….his so foolish!!!!!his so proud but stupid………..
I surely don’t get this insanity. Everywhere I’ve been students do leave outside campus either by preference but mostly due to hoastels’ room shortages. I have never heard of such a law not even at Boarding Secondary Schools!
We have an unlearned Education Minister. How embarassing. This man is mistaking a University for a primary or secondary school. A University student can choose where he/she wants to stay. Some students are even above 30 and run homes, they are capable of looking after themselves.
These people just want to enrich themselves by charging students exobitantly. The minister should be removed. He a huge embaassment.
There goes another fooolish,ignorant and very incompetent so called professor/minister whose so fat of idiosy and lack of anlytical skills.Kwata amano that why i cant wait to graduate and leave this country because of such selfish leaders who dont care about us.Tuleya mwanya coz thats the ONLY solution.Mwatumpa sana ba PUSHI….Tiyenda.How and when on this earth are we ever going to have sane leaders,ones that will put the intrest of a poor student forward and ensure that the educational archievement is worthwhile…And how do you expect us to work under or with sich ministers after graduation…tell us
Why is it illegal for students or anyone else to rent accomodation anywhere they want? How is that a free economy?
How can an economy be free, when the people are not free to rent whatever they want, while the government invites Chinese companies to do business in Zambia with privileges that put Zambian business out of business?
This ‘phoney neoliberal’ government is not about economic freedom.
We can insult the fool talk him down. but are we doing anything that will stop him and his group from continuing with the harrasment of students. It is only yesturday that students where short at for demanding what is constitutionally provided for them and now they can’t find cheaper accommodation we don’t all come from rich families for if we where why even study from zambia where even the so called university structures are no better than the yugoslavia torn down buildings. Should we start supplying students with barms so that they may protect their asses as well or what. show me the way countrymen.
#92 i didn’t know people cared about what happens to zambians in zambia let me check the supplies i will let you know by friday my position
This is what happens when people work inorder to have reputation and not to save the people.
A minister must be a responsible man.Saving the people.Firstly getting the problem of the people.Of the students in this case.
This is the proble we have in Zambia.
Leaders work for reputation and no to save the people.
Let him learn to save and not to have reputaion.
This is what happens when people work inorder to have reputation and not to save the people.
A minister must be a responsible man.Saving the people.Firstly getting the problem of the people.Of the students in this case.
This is the problem we have in Zambia.
Leaders work for reputation and not to save the people.
Let him learn to save and not to have reputaion.