Government says a Committee has been appointed to assess the fulfilment of conditions set for the re-opening of the Copperbelt University.
The Committee which was set up on Tuesday is expected to finish the assignment by 7th April, 2016.
The Committee comprises Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary,
Mr. Owne M’gemezulu, Secretary to the Bursaries Committee Ms. Irene Chirwa and Kitwe District Commissioner Mr. Chanda Kabwe.
Others are CBU Chaplin Fr. Chilufya and Copperbelt Police Commissioner Ms. Charity Katanga.
Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu on 3rd February, 2016 shut down CBU and UNZA following days of violent demonstrations and arson attacks.
A number of conditions were set before the two institutions could be allowed to reopen.
The Committee was appointed to determine the fulfilment of the conditions with a view to open CBU and prepare a report and recommendations to Dr. Kaingu whether the University has fulfilled the conditions and is ready to re-open.
Some of the conditions outlined by Dr Kaingu were that the universities must ensure the sufficient and effective security measures have been put in place to regulate the entry and exit of visitors to the Universities.
This should include sealing off all porous points, strictly enforcing the use of students’ identity cards, installation of floodlights and security cameras and provision of walkie-talkie radio communication to security officers.
He also asked the universities to ensure that all students are made to sign a commitment form to pledge not to indulge in violent protests.
Other conditions were that the universities were to ensure that the office of the Dean of Students designs programmes aimed at instilling discipline in students by sensitizing them on social dialogue, non-violent engagement and other dispute resolution processes.
Dr Kaingu also asked the university managements to surcharge all students on Government Bursary for damage caused to both public and university property.
He also demanded that all those that were identified and submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education as ring leaders for the violent protest should be expelled as they are inimical to the academic life of the Universities. These include students and staff.
We really have money to waste in Zambia.
“Committe to assess the readiness of CBU”; shaaaa!!
The way we love committees and commissions of inquiry.
I HOPE THE STUDENTS THAT WERE EXPELLED CAN SEEK JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THIER EXPULSIONS. THEY SHOULD JOINTLY FILE SUITE AND SEEK AN INJUCTION RESTRICTING CBU FROM EXPELLING THEM UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS IT CAN BE DETERMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT JUDGE OR ARBITRATOR THAT THE EXPULSIONS WERE LEGAL AND FAIR. THESE STUDWNTS WILL SUFFER IRREPARABLE DAMAGE IF ACADEMIC ACTIVITY RESY MES AND IT IS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE EXPULSIONS WERE UNLAWFULLY DONE OR WERE A PRODUCT OF DISPARATE TREATMENT ON BY MANAGEMENT. TO THW STUDENTS I SAY GET AN INJUNCTION SO YOU CAN ATTEND CLASS WHILE THE COURTS SORT OUT THIS NONSENSE. YOU ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS AND FIAR HEARINGS AND OUTCOMES!!!!!!
Guys, please check if that Minister has Grade 12. I do not see why we should institutionalize symptoms. You cannot force universities into a corner with so-called readiness check lists when you have not addressed the deep seated problems!! Awe mwe!
I’m not a student but this just makes me angry. I’m sure this ‘committee’ is centered on allowances, tax payer’s money but again we have different mindsets, someone else will praise this move by government, this irrational thinking among Zambians is what has made this country stale.
laughable indeed! Why can’t the minister and other ministry officials, CBU council, etc just call for a meeting and discuss? What role will the Kitwe DC play in all this???????????
Good move!!! Actually if l was Minister l will. Give it a year closed. Our students need to grow up in conduct and learn from their bad behaviors. BC, book allowance is not a right but a prevailedge to protest over!
One year? It is impossible because He will not be a minister after august
Bravo Kaingu. Surly its time Universities were viewed as places of intellectuals not riot playing fields.
Intensified security and other measures will help bring sanity at the two (2) higher learning institutions for mother Zambia.
We are really in support of this step…Ignore these non progressive under 5 bloggers.
As these committees are being set up, cbu workers are yet to be paid…who will pay for security cameras, radios and all the conditions the Doc set?
Let’s value education and Government should continue to play its role in investing as other nations do.politics and education investment can not be mixed.oil and water can not be one.
Lungu needs advisors wasting money like this, that’s the problem with picking people from the street to be your president. No common sense, wrong priorities. no wonder he wasted millions just to sign a document he doesn’t understand. Those conditions won’t even stick around because soon HH will capitalize on it and you will be forced to change your decision as you been doing.