Friday, March 29, 2024

Government satisfied with UNZA rehabilitation

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Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting the room at one of the hostel at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting the room at one of the hostel at UNZA

Government is satisfied with the adequate repair works being done at the University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East road campus which are aimed at improving sanitation levels so that the institution can be reopened.

Speaking after an inspection tour of the UNZA great east road campus in Lusaka yesterday, Minister of Higher Education Nkandu Luo said management has done basic necessary works to warrant the reopening of the university.

ZANIS reports that Professor Luo however stressed that the University of Zambia will only open under the directive of the Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya in light of the cholera pandemic that has ravaged Lusaka.

Prof. Luo said health experts will soon be sent to UNZA to conduct inspections and test water samples to ensure that the cholera vibrio is not present at the country’s highest learning institution.

The Minister said there will be need for massive attitude transformation in order to ensure that highest levels of sanitation and cleanliness are maintained at UNZA.

She has since directed UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba to ensure that matters of hygiene are incorporated at the start of all lectures at the great east road and ridgeway campuses.

Prof. Luo however warned students against running down the infrastructure at the campus following the repairs that management is undertaking.

She said her ministry will soon launch a compulsory cleaning exercise day for all tertiary learning institutions across the country.

And Prof. Luo maintained that squatting will not be allowed at UNZA as it is an illegality that contributes to poor hygiene standards and continues to rob the university of huge amounts of money collected by students from fellow students they sublet rooms to.

The minister philosophized that the university was churning out “thieving students” from the squatting situation and are since taking the bad habit into industry.

She alleged that this could explain why the Auditor General’s reports always indicate escalating financial irregularities in the public service.

Prof. Luo said she will work with UNZA management to increase the bed space at the institution to mitigate against students being left without accommodation.

And UNZA Dean of Students Lastone Zgambo said the university will work with the Ministry of Higher Education to expedite the completion of the construction of hostels at the institution.

Mr. Zgambo said the hostels under construction have a capacity of 4,000 bed spaces which is more than the combined bed space at the great east road and ridgeway campuses.

And University of Zambia Student representative Oscar Musukuma commended government and UNZA management for undertaking the repair works and working round the clock towards the re-opening of the institution.

Mr. Musukuma however regretted that government had banned squatting saying this will greatly create an accommodation crisis at the institution.

Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting the room at one of the hostel at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting the room at one of the hostel at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting hostels on how clean are now at UNZA during the tour of the facility
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting hostels on how clean are now at UNZA during the tour of the facility
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo confers with University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba during the tour to check on the clean up exercise whilst UNZASU representative Oscar Musukuma looks on
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo confers with University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba during the tour to check on the clean up exercise whilst UNZASU representative Oscar Musukuma looks on
University of Zambia Resident Engineer Ally Nyirenda showing the Minister of High Education Nkandu Luo the part of the water pipes the where removed during the clean up exercise due to cholera at University of Zambia
University of Zambia Resident Engineer Ally Nyirenda showing the Minister of High Education Nkandu Luo the part of the water pipes the where removed during the clean up exercise due to cholera at University of Zambia
University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba confers with Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo during the tour to check on the clean up exercise in the hostels at UNZA
University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba confers with Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo during the tour to check on the clean up exercise in the hostels at UNZA
University of Zambia Resident Engineer Ally Nyirenda explaining to Minister of High Education Nkandu Luo the part of the water pipes the where removed during the clean up exercise due to cholera at University of Zambia
University of Zambia Resident Engineer Ally Nyirenda explaining to Minister of High Education Nkandu Luo the part of the water pipes the where removed during the clean up exercise due to cholera at University of Zambia
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo inspecting the room at one of the hostel at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo confers with University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba during the tour and inspection of the hostels at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo confers with University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba during the tour to check on the clean up exercise whilst UNZASU representative Oscar Musukuma looks on
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo confers with University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba during the tour to check on the clean up exercise whilst UNZASU representative Oscar Musukuma looks on
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo (c) University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba (l) and University of Zambia Resident Engineer Ally Nyirenda during the tour and inspection of the hostels at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo (c) University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba (l) and University of Zambia Resident Engineer Ally Nyirenda during the tour and inspection of the hostels at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo (c) University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba (l) and the entourage during the tour and inspection of the hostels at UNZA
Minister of High Education Prof. Nkandu Luo (c) University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba (l) and the entourage during the tour and inspection of the hostels at UNZA

38 COMMENTS

  1. If that mediocrity is what this minister calls “satisfactory” I guess I need glasses.But then again maybe she comes from mtendere and chibolya where this poor UNZA standards would be “heavenly”

    • the word satisfactory is relative. So under the current circumstances in a third world, this is fine. But you have a point, we need to work hard to uplift standards in the whole country.

    • Third world = sh!thole. Sh!thole countries dont have standards, anything goes, no wonder the minister thinks the situation is now okay.

  2. Eish mediocre facitlities aplenty at UNZA and at CBU also.My bathroom here would be high end compared to these rusty ill maintained rooms.

  3. Honestly what do you expect? Rooms originally designed to accommodate 2 students but accommodate 6?The simple result is too much pressure on the available ablution blocks

  4. I read somewhere that Nkandu Luo’s Parliamentary Seat had been nullified, what is she doing? Is she waiting for the Speaker to expel her from Parley when it opens? People should act on their own, if they have any morality. If what I read is true, please pack your katundu and go, don’t wait to be removed. You have the judgment with you, you may be committing an offence by staying in office illegally. Don’t be surprised if at some point Tayali works up and reports you to the Police

  5. No Mrs Luo , the stealing as shown in the AGs report is because your lungu does not mind being called a corrupt theif every day……these students and the whole civil service can see this and see nothing wrong with being corrupt thieves, if the whole president is being called a corrupt theif every day this must be normal …….monkey see monkey do…..

  6. Moneni ichilufumo ne fimaboko, is she afflicted by post malnutrition or she is pregnant in old age and if so who knocked her up!

  7. PF govt is an embarrassment -from utterly filthy cholera markets & street side stalls to “acceptable” public universities looking like what Trump would call a dump.

    From the low standards i see all around it all tells me we ain’t trying hard enough .

  8. I am convinced that there is something terrible wrong with people in sh!thole countries. UNZA and CBU are supposed to be at the pinnacle of excellence in student welfare, learning and research facilities. The state of these and many institutions is a sorry sight to behold and contemplate in the 21st century. Over 40 years ago the USA sent a men to the moon and we are still struggling with basic issues? Shame on this sh!thole country. Shame on the Patriotic Behind leadership.

    If authorities were authentic in their action and took a visit to the University Teaching hospital, I bet it couldn’t pass whatever checklist they are using. What we have in this sh!thole country is a systemic failure of whatever systems the colonial administrators left.

  9. I still smell the stink of blocked sewer lines as I drive on Great East Road and Kamloops Avenue from the Handsworth Park area where Luke Mbewe and his educated functionally illiterate dons live. Even Luke smelt it as he applied cologne after showering.

  10. What about squatting at other learning institutions, does that not create the same problems that have been identified at unza. The ministry has the capacity to stop all squatting at these institutions, however, is reluctant to take action. Its time to be minister of all institutions and not just minister of unza.

  11. These people have no shame..even from the photos one can see that this is below standard…you wasting $1millon on a Fire truck

  12. This is shocking! University lectures in Zambia will start with hygiene as directed by Prof. Luo. “Teaching toilet manners to university students is a first in the world. Zambia is making great history, so big than you have ever seen before” Donald Trump will say.

  13. broken mirrors, unpainted walls and ceilings, cement screed floors, dirty window frames, unfixed shelves, missing light fixtures, unfixed electrical points, broken floor tiles… Universities built in the 1600’s in the west are still in better condition than that. Lets begin to accept a better standard of living for ourselves, if not in our public spaces such as markets and community halls, at least we can begin with our universities, where our highest and brightest students are preparing to guide our future. It would be hypocritical to accept those standards for our own people and send your children abroad to different universities. Lets be more serious and consult professionals to advise, in this case get architects.

  14. For all you bloggers calling Zambia sh!thole whilst enjoying the comfort of the western world..just wait till you get old…you will all being going back to the same Sh!thole
    Mwiponta Mukabwela

    • I am currently making a living in this sh!thole place… so I know what am talking about. I know that the sh!thole place has had a bit of a cleanup and driving through Lusaka CBD during a weekday feels like a Sunday. That doesn’t change the fact that it still a sh!thole country. There is no reason why we dont deserve better, but the reality is this place is sh!thole. When you in the air about to land you can see the sh!t from the air, its very sad. And when you land and have to walk from the plane to the arrivals you know for sure that you are in a sh!thole.

      The Patriotic Behind ministers and other leaders are so happy to go abroad to enjoy the fruits of the sweat and blood of the imperialists without feeling any shame about not improving this sh!thole country they hail from. Some…

    • ……Some of you feel like you are in heaven when you go to this western nations because you know in your hearts that Zambia is a sh!thole place.

  15. Is she inspecting damages or repairs??? Elyo how does she wear such shoes during inspections? It seems we have accepted ma labbish as a way of life

  16. She has since directed UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba to ensure that matters of hygiene are incorporated at the start of all lectures at the great east road and ridgeway campuses……..
    I will be like ‘ Good Morning Students, Today I will be teaching you how to use a toilet …..and how to use toilet tissue and not smear walls and ceiling with feces….by the way how do manage to smear those high ceilings with excrement? amazing…..you students coming from Luapula province pay attention ….toilet bowls are not wells…….

  17. All old UNZA hostels need to be raised to the ground, then new spacious and modern structures constructed. It shall be 100 times cheaper and less expensive in the long run.

  18. Ati Resident Engineer, ati Vice Chancellor, all these could not see the dirty in their institution? But they could see the allowances?

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