The University of Zambia students Union have rejected government’s pronouncement to pay for all the damage that was caused during the 17 May black Friday demonstration.
UNZASU Secretary General Mwauluka Sishekanu indicates that Zambia Police should bear the cost of paying for the damage caused because the students were on the receiving end of the violence.
Sishekanu defends the students’ 17 May actions noting that the demonstration was peaceful but was turned aggressive by the Police.
On Monday Acting Republican President Edgar Lungu stated that costs will be recovered through student’s bursaries or any other means available, in addition to prosecution
Mr Lungu, who is Home Affairs Minister said if students involved were not singularly identifiable, the whole bodymass of students would be subjected to contributions toward the recoveries.
“In this vein, students will from today and onwards take responsibility for all damaged University or College properly as well as private property by recovering from them costs of all such damaged property through their bursaries or any other means available in addition to prosecution,”
He said Government’s desire was to inculcate a culture of adherence to law and order by engaging it through dialoguing on contentious matters in a way that never endangered lives of people or property.
He said the behaviour by students to resort to riotous actions as a way of expressing their grievances was not correct at the expense of destroying property belonging to innocent Zambians.
He advised UNZA and other students to find amicable ways of resolving issues on which they were aggrieved by organising forums and invite Government to explain pressing matters unlike resorting to riotous behaviours.
He said Government was further open to discuss matters and has since appealed to students to design forums with concerned stakeholders on issues such as removal of subsidies.
Mr Lungu said the decision was arrived at by Cabinet at its sitting held on May 20, 2013 but was made public on Monday to put Government’s position in view of growing trend by students to take to the streets each time they were aggrieved.
Awe yakosa kanshi, acting president ati ba Unza students will pay miniwhylo ama students ati ba Buju will pay…so who will end up paying kanshi considering that ba Buju and both students hVe no ifishilikiti
The students learnt from the PF during the many riotous by-election campaigns because the PF thugs always escape blame and punishment.We’re unequally yoked before the law in the age of PF and Fred Mmembe,Nchito and RB are testament to that ugly fact.
Long time to see this place. It has been painted. I hope water also runs well.
Good luck monks. We were also there except MAYBE most PF deputy ministers and MP who went to trades schools and some seemly forged a paper for only six weeks.
Hold any Political Party accountable for their actions. Cadres’ damage should be paid from respective party coffers.
Yes! Someone must pay for the damage. And the right people to pay are the students. Police neither set fire to property nor threw stones. Authorities, please, teach these hooligans a lesson once and for all. We cannot accept this kind of behaviour in our own homes and that is why every reasonable parent gives a thorough beating to his child who throws tantrums and deliberately damages household goods because he/she is angry over something. Mad people should not be in the University, but they should be in a place called “Chainama hospital”, just two km further up the Great East road. That is the right Campus for them
You sound like a policeman but UNZASU have point.Who was firing tear gas canisters into the rooms?Students or dumb cops?How ironic that they want to show off when they are sent to deal with innocent students but alas you only see the back of their heads when thieves confront them.
Nikwisa uku. This must be new residences. Initially I thoughtit was october but mmmm I do not think so. Kale but yaba!
Iwe #dontcare, nipa Unza pa. The govt renovated the campus before the all africa games and was used as the games village. ba monk protested pa first and now are enjoying the result.
The students and youths spanning the entire Zambian territory have this time around learnt a big lesson for failure to use their intellectual powers to assess the calibre of the PF leaders whom they voted to bring about tyranny in this country. They were dribbled by professional LIARS that the PF would fill their pockets with money and offer them. HAS PF FULFILLED THEIR DEVILISH PROMISES?
Neshina line ati mwansa kabinga. ichiwa chekecheka
The blocks have been painted? Is that Soweto i see? Work hard students, Unza is good, dont let these illiterate haters deter you. Student life is like that..
Yes. ZP should pay for the damanges they caused with teargus.
It’s teargas and not teargus…That’s why people end up writing ati” UNZA LISTEN US”
Kashimba Chimbwili. He will probably blame corruption and the PF Government when he doesn’t get a job interview.
Hahahahahah…. maybe government also should subsidise the damage !
So these students think they can outsmart the government ? Are they saying the presence of police who were there to help maintain law and order forced them to break property ? Their argument is baseless.They made this bed ,it is high time they slept in it.
UNZA students should not allow selfish politicians to imfluence them to start rioting before they analyse the issues concerned.I was also at UNZA and we never allowed politicians to drive us into riotous behaviour.It seems the students at UNZA now have no time to analyse any issue but get exited whenenever any politician tells them to riot on any issue.It also seems like there are no students studying economics any more who are expected to analyse the removal of subsidies and advise these selfish disgrantled politicians about the benefits of the removal of subsidies.In the end the students will suffer if the government cuts their barsaries because these politiians will not pay their fees.The politician who incited them should pay their fees when the governement cuts them!!
I dont remember a single year when there has been no riot at UNZA.
Every Jim and Jack in Lusaka know how violent the UNZA students have been with their demonstrations. The police only try to stop them from breaking and damaging public and private property. It is wishful thinking to suggest that the police pays for the damage when the students are on record of breaking property. We the govt know exactly how to make the students pay for the damages they cause. Student should now desist from those violent demonstration otherwise they will graduate with nkongole and no getting the results period!
These chaps should pay period. Student behaviour is bad and so need to pay. I almost did the same to the students when i was minister. Just pay you students sponsored by HeHe
The msg is loud and Clear.ignorance has no excuse.Let Hungry Hyena give you money again to pay for damages.We are taming you this time around.Most of you will roam the streets jobless when we strip off the bursaries.We will leave a legacy that will be non-tolerant against mischief.
I remember one good year 1999 at my former high school.Those who destroyed school property were asked to pay for the damage double the price before they got their zeros(exam results).And me a good reflection of my good parents got praises from my career teachers and passed with distinctions.
As for you unza students denounce the devil in you and your future shall be brighter than mine. CONCERNED PARENT.
During one of the demonstrations back in 2002/2003 at CBU the police entered the campus and went on rampage breaking down doors and damaging other university properties. Not only did they cause damage to university property but also stole some valuable items from some rooms.
UNZA and CBU students should not break properties like vehicles of the people who pay taxes to subsidise their education and their peasant farmer parents in the villages.
Vandalism must never be entertained at universities in the country. Wanton destruction of property and causing injury to any by standers must be justiable. A number of remedies are readily available. One possible option is to withhold degree certificates until damage costs are settled. The second option is to return to campus after paying damages established by competent authorities. As futur eleaders, university students must abandon violence as a communication tool. Agrieved people also need to respect the rule of law. That is what Good Governance stands for.
These stupid kaponyas should pay! My friends car was even beaten by this foolish peoples. Mwandi what has been achieved by this?
Equaly do not condone damage to property during any demons…but i was amazed just like the Manager at arcades on how the corps through there teargas/canisters right at arcades shopping mall premises…is arcades shopping mall part of unza?remember there was innocent retail owners and customers who had nothing to do with unza demos.Let’s be fair .
I WEE ,JOHN ‘SOLYE UBWALI’SHISHEKANO, U MUST BE ANOTHER ST UPID STUNDENT.WHOM DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? DO YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO LOOSE PROPERTY ?BUTUTU IWE! GOVT HAS COME UP WITH AN EXCELLENT IDEA U MUST BE READY.LEARN TO DO BE CIVIL.
ZP hire me so that i teach them a lesson they will not forget. When you do so let me just have neccessery tools .Maybe ones that make me be equal to a thousand of them. lol!
Sympathy for UNZA causes is now wearing thin from the citizens in Zambia. How is it posssible that it’s only students at our institutions that are always causing havoc in Africa? It’s indeed quite rare for students at reputable universities not just in the rest of Africa, but also elsewhere, to always be involved in demonstrations over all sorts of trivial issues. Zambians are now fatigued with these juvenile tendencies and practices.
who are you to order ZP to pay for your stupid actions.
goodness me, ruin ba penta…….never thought of that the colour looks cool as it fits ba mojo mu new rase…. a photo for ruins please
you crazy people you’re all ordinary citizens no one should defend police or the
government, police and government can easily bring bloodshed to our beautiful country they carry guns, teargas, buttons while students are defenseless.
Ewe ka student spooks person ,uli kapuba sana, you caused that riot and you have to bear the causers consequence .
My sympathy is with those ordinary citizens whose cars and properties are damaged whenever there is a riot. These students are supposed to be the Intelligentsia of our nation and yet their only response to disagreements with governments seems to be rioting. There is no sense in stoning cars, breaking university property and then claiming victim status.
My friends car was even beaten by this foolish peoples. What is the meaning? someone to explain
Students pay the damage now but come 2016,PF will pay for the damage you paid.
Ba unza namwe bambili yo were bought by mmd with stolen money fro RB but patriotic Zedians outnumbered u.Only a government run by stu pids would allow yo premitive nd baberic behavior. Honestly,was de Presido going2 refuse dem chance2 talk c him?No.
Edgar Lungu was once a monk and he was part of unza vivas. Did GRZ asked him to pay for the damages when he was fighting for BC and books allowance? Police have always been cousins to UNZA students.