Friday, March 29, 2024

Government will open an inquest into the death of UNZA student

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Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo
Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo

Government will open an inquest into the death of UNZA student Vespers Shimuzhila. Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo says the inquest will come after thorough investigations into the death of Ms Shimuzhila have been concluded.

Mr Kampyongo says the investigations will cover events prior, during and after the riots.

He told journalists at a media briefing that anyone who will be found wanting will be dealt with accordingly.

Mr Kampyongo said the inquest results will be supplemented by post-mortem results for the deceased student.

He called for calm saying it is too early to blame the Police for the death of Ms Shimuzhila.

Below is the Ministerial full statement

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA RIOTS THAT LED TO DEATH OF A STUDENT AND AN INJURY OF ANOTHER STUDENT.

I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the bereaved family of the late Vespers Shimuzhila a University of Zambia fourth year student who passed away on Friday 5th October, 2018 during the riot at the institution.

Further, I would like to sympathise with the family for Evelyn Chongo a second year student who sustained a spinal injury after jumping from the second floor of her hostel during the same riot at the institution.

I wish to inform the nation that my Ministry and Government is very concerned about what transpired at the highest learning institution. However, I can not give more details concerning the matter as the Ministry is doing its investigations which will help provide more information and come up with a clear report.

The investigations which are currently being conducted by the police and other investigative wings will cover what transpired for the period; prior to the riot, during and after the riot at the institution.

Besudes that, there will be an inquest whereby other people who might have other pieces of information concerning the same will be allowed to provide the information to the team that would undertake the inquest.

The results of the inquest will be supplemented by the postmortem reoort for the deceased student and once this information is put together the nation shall be informed accordingly.

The Ministry shall ensure that investigations are carried out professionally
and those who will be found wanting will be dealt with according to the law. There will be no sacred cows on this matter.

I also wish to mention that the President is also concerned with the welfare of the students hence the decision to evacuate the injured student for specialised treatment to South Africa.

I wish therefore, to appeal to all the family members, students populace and the general public to allow the investigative wings to do their work without interference.

HON. STEPHEN KAMPYONGO (MP),
HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER

27 COMMENTS

  1. Silly Kampongo (Kapoli). Where is the report of the killing in cold blood by Police of Mapenzi Chibulo? Was the police officer who threw a teargas canister in a room where Nevers Mumba was having a meeting in Lundazi arrested? Edgar and Kampyongo have encouraged lawlessness in the country. Edgar is not fit to be Commander in Chief. PF govt has budgeted K2 billion to purchase teargas. Is this judicious. Is this normal?

    • Govt will save a lot of money if they can invest in a state of the art kitchen, fully equipped and updated library and provide materials for research projects. In any case UNZA students have low IQ’s and don’t participate in elaborate research projects anyway.
      That way no one will riot over meal, book or research monies.

    • It’s “too early to blame the Police for the death of Ms Shimuzhila”, but it’s not too early to blame the opposition. You should have mentioned that to be complete, but as usual, covering up your DORA.
      Anyway, at least your statement seems humane that you show sympathy to the bereaved family which absolutely was missing from Dora.

    • While commission of inquiry into voting patterns and election violence is still using tax payers money and no report has been produced. What a government.

    • Surprising enough I will actually give this to Kampyongo even though I don’t usually agree with him…better late than never. A life has been lost and this statement sounds it’s coming from the heart. Unlike the stup!d Dora who has had multiple chances to sympathize with the bereaved family but is just going on talking rubbish.

    • A more level headed and sensible statement from Kampyongo. Not the rubbish from Lungu talking about a hyena and ukunya

    • It’s better just say “government is yet to decide which day to gas HH’s family”.
      HH don’t have keys to tear gas cabinet.
      The officer who fired is known, probably is same guy who throw those things in churches, why investigate.

  2. Yeah ,open an inquest into Dorah Siliya’s irresponsible statements and the ZP’s outrageous actions on this unwarranted death. That’s if GRZ can even be trusted to investigate itself.

  3. This should not be happening in this day and age! Absolutely pathetic & disgusting for the system to cause so much pain and grief to innocent kids. Why did the Police target Ladies hostels? Having been a student at UNZA many years ago, I know that ladies were most peaceful and fearful in riot situations. I am very upset about this.

  4. This boy is a thorn in the flesh

    Unza protest have been their even during one party state and this boys wants us to believe hh instigated demos

    Even this inquiry will goble more that K1b

    Pay K2.5b to the parents in compensation.

    When pf leaves I want to see this boy in police selo at woodlands police

  5. Too little too late. How can police investigate themselves and you expect a fair outcome ? Please save that tax payers money. We all know what happened and who is liable. The pf trigger happy police under the command of lungu have blood on their hands. Good luck is all I say

  6. How about the inquest for Chipenzi Mapalo, killed in cold blood by Police. No inquest because she was not a university student. Zambia Police should not at any time be involved in these investigations, call in Scotland yard, use the budget people are using to fly around aimlessly but please lets start with the one for Chipenzi Mapalo, that’s the correct sequence

  7. It is very sad indeed when young lives are lost as a results of acts perpetrated by people who are supposed to safeguard their safety. Condolences to her family. MHSRIP. Shame on you Bwana Minister. Are The Real Olivia Pope’s insensitive and inane comments a result of her/his failure to meet the high standards required to enter UNZA?

  8. I am personally humbled (and impressed!) that at least one senior government official has started his message by offering condolences. That is being human ba Steve. I didn’t read the rest of the statement. So I end here.

    • Alternative Facts Fake News S**thole Countries Social Mobility Chinese Zambia Police Reservists Corruption scandals: Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Alternative Facts Fake News S**thole Countries Social Mobility Chinese Zambia Police Reservists Corruption scandals: Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans

      All fake mate… these condolences messages coming many days after these numskulls were widely condemned. He read the condemnations right on this blog and he is now saving face. They need to coordinate their message and let one person speak for them… Dora the other day was apportioning blame squarely at UPND, and so was his boss who also blamed a hyena (pun intended :().

  9. I was not born before independence, but I believe that colonial days had great thinkers even in the absence of technological development. Imagine these kind of so called leaders you have today were in those days what would our society be. I think going forward mental status should be a prerequisite for one to be elected in these political offices, because one can easily forge academic papers no wonder we don’t see any logic in some of these politicians.

  10. Young man Kampyongo, just admit that you’re guilty, Luo is guilty and all the Police command are guilty and the police who caused the death are guilty; You have made the Zambia police service into a PF cadre police force; the blood of all the dead is on your hands;

  11. allow me to say me deep inner most thinking. Africa and Zambia included went into democracy when we were not ready. I may be wrong but more time is spent in talking about leaders than in production. hundreds of citizens go for press briefings at the expense of production. Think about election materials wasted every year. Some citizens leave their homes and fields un attended just to go campaigning for weeks at the expense of production. Think about those huge rallies, the lies people are fed with during campaigns. what about the insults towards each other every day. come on people, when are we going to concentrate on production. I feel democracy is a huge expense in this country or we are simply not ready for it. our chiefdoms are better organised. rarely do pipo talk about the…

  12. No. You can’t say that. You are already defending the Police. They are the ones who had teargas.

    How do you forget how the late Republican President Michael C Sata was attacked with teargas by Police?

    You should be teaching the Police to be professional in their conduct of duty.

  13. What is an inquest for? So that people sitting on the panel can get allowances. Here is the answer to the problem

    Delayed Meal allowances = Hungry students rioting = PF cadre police officers firing tear gas into a room = death of Vespers.
    There is your answer to the death, pay me the allowances.

    It is also a pity that we have a Head of State that cannot address his people, what is he afraid of? ECL has never had a press conference. Please ECL address you people you are our Leader. We are tired of this dull man Kampyongo

  14. Alternative Facts Fake News S**thole Countries Social Mobility Chinese Zambia Police Reservists Corruption scandals: Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Alternative Facts Fake News S**thole Countries Social Mobility Chinese Zambia Police Reservists Corruption scandals: Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans

    So what is the investigations going to centre on? Let me see: 1) Whether tge students were rioting for something else other than the meal allowances that were delayed; 2) whether the dead young lady was attacking the police and provoked them; 3) whether the police threw the teargas in her room in self defence; 4) whether she died of other causes than the teargas, like she may have committed suicide.

    Lots of questions there. Not sure why the police can investigate themselves impartially… maybe they should have asked the police integrity commission or whatever it is called. Even in brutal America where police kill blacks, the culprit cop is usually suspended pending sham internal investigations… here no one has been suspended. Unbelievable!

  15. Why always the police. The police officers are always in danger and whatever happens to a police officer, no one stands up to condemn the offenders! How can a responsible political party incite the students to riot? The police come in when these low IQ students go to the Great East road to start disturbing the innocent motorists. This is what these students do when their boycott or actions are ignored by the administration and the majority of students. They do that in order to gain or attract attention. Those who will be found wanting must have their loans revoked immediately.

  16. How the police who supposedly killed the student be the ones investigating themselves ? Zambia has indeed gone to the dogs because of these bunch of amateurs calling themselves government .

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