The PF has called on students from the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University to avoid being used by desperate opposition party leaders.
In a statement the Party’s Chairperson for Labour and Social Security Joyce Nonde Simukoko said students are suppose to be the cream and pride of the nation who should not fall play to selfish politicians who want to use them to achieve their ambitions.
She said students should be mindful of their background as the same politicians who use them have children who do not even go to the same universities but are learning abroad.
Below is a full statement issued to the media by the ruling party.
PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) CHAIRPERSON FOR LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS KEY TO SOLVING UNEMPLOYMENT IN ZAMBIA
The Patriotic Front Government, through the Ministry of Higher Education, in collaboration with the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) managements, has just reopened both Universities following their closure 3 months ago due to riotous Behaviour by students which led to damage to public and private property.
As PF Chairperson for Labour, I wish to call on students at both universities to avoid being used as tools of destruction by desperate opposition party elements especially in this election year. When intelligent students, the cream and pride of the nation, who are supposed to be focusing on their education, are manipulated and used as instruments of destruction by politicians to achieve their selfish political ambitions, the result will be more closures of the universities leading to delays in students completing their studies.
What UNZA and CBU students must realize is that those politicians encouraging them to conduct riotous behaviour have children who are studying in private universities or abroad, so they don’t mind the damage and closures.
Students must realize that time wasted due to delays in their graduation is never recovered, and working life is very short. It is an opportunity cost which should have been wisely used by these university graduates to contribute to the productivity and economic growth of the country. The longer students take to graduate from university the more they deprive the job market of their essential skills.
I also urge university and college students at all higher learning institutions to be more innovative and creative, and be the future drivers of founding start-up companies to create more employment opportunities. Some of the biggest global corporations today were founded by university students even before they could graduate from university – for example Apple by the late Steve Jobs, Microsoft by Bill Gates, Google by Larry page and Sergei Brin etc. So, instead of our intelligent students being used as political tools, I urge them to be innovative, creative and entrepreneurial and contribute to the economic growth and development of Zambia.
Finally, students must also realize that even when public workers, who are tax payers paying for students at universities, have experienced delays in getting their salaries in the past they have not resorted to riotous behaviour and looting. Students must emulate these gallant public service workers since they will be joining the job market soon.
MRS JOYCE NONDE SIMUKOKO,
PATRIOTIC FRONT (PF) CHAIRPERSON FOR LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Do you know what it is like to have no meals for weeks on end due to no meal allawances while lungu is busy booking jets to the USA???
Madam you can delay what you want but don’t mess with hunger.
dull woman..its you whop wants to use them..shut up!!baseless allegations…………
Madam nonde you are right thank you
Comment: hmmmm…..
PF used students in 2011 and thought it will always keep that constituency under its thumb. Now PF is panicking because UNZA and CBU students will not play ball with it. So Joyce Nonde and her PF cannot fo0l the students again.
The problem with Joyce is that she has for a long time survived by being opportunistic to the extent of wanting to be the Life President of ZUFIAW even when she was no longer in employment. It is well documented that the problems bedeviling CBU & UNZA are as a result of misplaced priorities by her party in government (PIG). Attributing the campus rumpus to opposition party influence just shows how shallow minded she is. Anyway, her statement can only be understood as one coming from a person living in an ivory tower and out of touch with reality.
Timely advice to make progress. Remember other people need to make use of the same facilities as well.
PF leave university students alone. There was is politiking, students were just demanding what belongs to them- meal allowances. Call a spade a spade, you wanted the students to starve and yet Edga Chagwa Lungu has money to give to his wife and Tasila for campaings. Where is the money that Tasila is dishing out coming from? If not It is money coming from proceeds of crime- money laundering of which she will be answerable after August elections when PF will be history.
..someone at 18, 19, 20,21 to 24..ages found at the universities are mature enough to understand issues and make up their own decisions….they are not kids to be ‘USED’…..how about the lecturers..??..are they also being used because they sympathise wth the opposition..??
IF THEY RIOT THIS TIME AROUND, CLOSE THE UNIVERSITY FOREVER AND EVER.
Tell yo government to give students their meal allowance on time no one uses them to do wht they do thy only demand wht is theirs have you ever seen students get their meal allowance and submit it to a political party?
A University is an environment where everything must actually subsist. That is where the highest form of disciplined political party activity must be exercised! That is where PF, UPND, MMD, and the other briefcase parties can articulate themselves through the exemplary example of learned (and learning) minds that are mature, tolerant and predisposed only to truth and welbeing of our citizens. So, madam Nonde-Simukoko, your comments are misplaced and you didn’t need to use so many words to say nothing.
The problem with some of these so called politicians is myopia. Just do whats right and students will not riot.How did other manage to keep the students busy with school and not riots? Please note that this is a tired strategy as it only shows how the PF is not in control of the situation.If a small party can influence the students, then where are your members?
Fo0lish girl..no wonder she got married in old age.
Getting married in old age is not being foolish please.
Thanks mum for the advice, I have taken note with due respect.
We appreciate the re-opening of the two public Universities.Focus for the future.Make it bright.
Relatives to CNP preserving their yamas legacy lets wait and see,as long as you fail to pay student allowances and lecturers salary the more efficient opposition will not fail to use them.