Government has urged University of Zambia students to go back to class because the water situation at the institution has normalized. Education Permanent Secretary Mirriam Chinyama has warned the students the university is likely to close if the class boycott goes beyond three days.
Mrs Chinyama says this is according to the current University Senate regulations. She was speaking to ZNBC news in Lusaka. Mrs Chinyama said that UNZA management is currently discussing with the Disaster Management unit on how best to respond to similar emergencies.
And Government has said that it has plans to build more tertiary institutions across the country. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Early Childhood Minister John Phiri has however said that there is need to improve on existing institutions before embarking on constructing new ones.
Dr. Phiri was speaking in Lusaka on yesterday when he addressed University of Zambia -UNZA management and UNZA Students union over the students demonstration on water problems at the institution.
Meanwhile, UNZA Vice Chancellor Stephen Simukanga said that the institution will soon increase the diameter of the current sewer system in the short term. Professor Simukanga further says the institution has plans to replace water pipes in an effort to improve sanitary conditions.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Christopher Mutembo undertook a tour of the Copperbelt University (CBU ) to inspect the damage caused by the rainstorm, last Friday.
And Copperbelt University acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Shadreck Chama says the CBU Management will appreciate any assistance that government and concerned stakeholders will render to the institution for repair works.
Mr. Mutembo said government was saddened by the destruction as it would mean rechanneling the money that was meant for extension of structures at the institution to the damaged ones.
“Government will quickly intervene in the repairing of the damaged structures to ensure that the academic calendar is not disturbed, “ he said.
He further said that a detailed assessment of the damage will be conducted to ascertain whether the cause of the destruction was due to poor workmanship on the new structures or a natural cause.
Mr. Mutembo estimated costs of repairs at the Institution will be included in the budget for the Typhoid Combating programme in Mufulira District where government is working at containing Typhoid which broke out early this month.
And Copperbelt University acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Shadreck Chama said the University Management will appreciate any assistance that government and concerned stakeholders will render to the institution.
Dr Chama, who could not give the total cost needed to repair the damaged structures, said the institution will also conduct an assessment to ascertain the cause of the damages and the cost that will be needed to repair the three structures.
And following the destructiveness of mother nature, the 2012 Academic calendar for the Copperbelt University has been deferred.
This is aimed at ensuring complete repair works caused by last week’s hailstorms.
The storms damaged structures such as the new female hostel block, the new School of Business Complex and the Graduation Shelter.
The country’s second largest tertiary institution was scheduled to open next week on the 4th of March.
This is contained to a Statement issued in Kitwe today by the Copperbelt University office of the Registrar.
Three buildings at the Copperbelt University over the weekend had their roofs blown off by a heavy down pour that occurred in the city.
ZANIS
When it comes to threats the regulation is followed to the letter; when it comes to paying registrar fees for association, rules are broken for 20 years. Double standards. I am sure that water problem has been under-capacitance for the last 30 years…
For a long time UNZA depends up on funding from government. There is no structured systems that funds UNZA. Its all like money in one pot and  long fingers decides which department gets the money. We can employ a principal of Mayo Mpapa naine nkakupapa. EX Uni should pay back to UNZA deducted out of their pay and let govt create employment.  Who is going to make this system work? Baka Ponya?? No But who?. Tukalalila fye. Current system of funding UNZA is unsustainable, not good enough.
we will carry out a peaceful demo blocking the entire Great East Road
Yeah..u lazy students
Government must not be inclined towards closing the institution.Gives me an impression that they simply dont give a damn.The other day the man at plot 1 was saying District Commissioners dont really need a degree!!!UNZA’s infrastructure is a pain in the eye,go to the Main Library’s last floor and check out the state of the ceiling and roof.You would think you are living in a war torn country.Dust all over ancient books.Very sorry state of affairs
I cannot believe that all those educated heads in GRZ and UNZA cannot find a way of funding universities. Universities can generate their own money. The sooner this happens the better of our country. lack of water, filth, unpained buildings, dilapidation etc must not be at any university. Libray books with print dates as far as 1940s should never be in any university on earth- period.
Only tin-pot dictators threaten to close universities.
And no. 3, Mr. Manda if you plan to block the entire Great East Road that is not a peaceful protest but an assault on everyone who uses the road.
UNZA UNZA UNZA……. As much as we are concerned about the situation and its urgency, pliiiiz dont take it out on the roads to attack innocwent pipo damaging their hard earned cars. Take your wrath to statehouse en ministries concerned. Tamwakaleke bukaponya style?
There is something wrong the way govt leaders react to problems. Does mean Unza management did not know that there was a serious problem of water supply and poor sanitation until the students had to resort to strike action? There is need for continous preventive maintenance at all govt institutions. You dont need to wait for some one to make noise thats when remidal action is taken. Lets be proactive.That lady Mama Mirriam Chinyama and Dr. John Phiri have no capacity to solve the many problems being faced by our higher institutions of learning. Its up to cabinet to make a bold decision and vote for an emergency fund from Finance Minister Alex Chikwanda to fix problems at Unza, CBU and other other higher institutions of learning.You dont need a rocked scientist to sort problems at UNZA.
Threats have permeated all strata of government. The President is the main culprit with his ‘with immediate effect’ syndrome and all others are following his footsteps. My heart bleeds for mother Zambia. 2016 is too far and the opposition is too fragmented and impotent to give hope to the Zambians
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT YOU CAN NOT BEND A DRIED FISH NOR CAN ONE GROW HAIR ON AN EGG.
Problem with UNZA students is that they feel entitled to everything. Stop collecting tax payers money and pay real school fees, that’s how your institute will be self sufficient. How dare you, you go to study type- writing and you want tax payers funds…
Iwe # 3,efyo tamwakwatila amano ba monk! Why relieving your anger on innocent citizens?don’t you know where where plot 1 is ukwikala bashikulu obe? Foolish boy!
Government must not threaten UNZA but provide lasting solution!
UNZA is a closure,, yenzonveka mushe bad.
The government need to invest at least $2 billion to solve this problem once and for all. They need to renovate the main structure in Lusaka and build branches of the campus in every province. Each province should specialise in a specific field ie school of engineering, business, accounts, medicine, building and construction etc. We need move on from the current reactive politics and start investing in the future.
Number 9 Tamwakaleke ukulya tax payers nonensoni. All ex UNZA should brain storm best solutions. Dont cry for govt. Â UNZA was built and no students has ever gone to back to help. Not even permanent secretary.
@13, You remember those days….Yes those days bring good memories..UNZA is a closure… and KK would bring ma UBZ buses ku Goma lakes to take us (student by then) to provincial centers. Stone throwing is bad but it is interesting just to remember how we used to be taken up by invents.We could close great east road with tree branches,burn tires on the middle of the road and thro cars into Goma lakes. I remember at one time a student grabbed an AK 47 riffle from a para and thru it into Goma lake.Good old days. those where the only moments tuma Momas would free interact with Rupens.The only reason for stone throwing is to attract attention, so that the gvt can quickly move in and resolve your issues. Otherwise you can be demonstrating with no positive result. It is up the GVT to stop it.
@17, I meant #14
Younare hereby informed that Unza is a closure until further notice. Mwanyanya kudya nkhuku amambala! This was 1986 closure.
UNZA is in the intensive care unit when it comes to finances. Many retirees have not been paid their dues, contract workers are not paid their gratuities in time, it takes aproximately 5 years for your gratuity to be paid after the end of the contract. The government do even care about the plight of those Lecturers who are sacrificing their efforts to make the institution run. Politicians get their gratuity immediately, but we have been waiting for our gratuity for 5 years now. Do the government think those poor lecturers dont need money?
#12 U R A BIG FOOL…!:-?