Acting President Edgar Lungu has issued a statement stating that from today going forward, student would be held responsible for any property that is damaged during the riots. According the the statement, Government will either deduct the cost from students bursaries or use other means to recover the costs.
“Recoveries will be done through managements of the responsible institutions. In this respect, if students involved are not singularly identifiable, then the whole body mass of students will be subjected to contributions toward the recoveries,” read the statement.
Below is the full statement
REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA (UNZA) STUDENTS AND OTHER HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS UNRULY AND RIOTOUS BEHAVIOUR
In view of the students’ riotous behavior which has recently characterized and rocked our institutions of learning concerning the removal of subsidies on maize and fuel, I wish to state that government is not in support this behavior as a way of airing their grievances.
As government, we have always advised students to find amicable ways of resolving issues on which they feel aggrieved such as designing a forum and inviting government representatives and indeed other stakeholders to explain on matters of concern unlike taking to the streets and destroying property belonging to innocent Zambian citizens.
In this vein, students will from today and on-wards take responsibility for all damaged University or College property 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. Recoveries will be done through managements of the responsible institutions. In this respect, if students involved are not singularly identifiable, then the whole body mass of students will be subjected to contributions toward the recoveries.
Our desire as government is to inculcate a culture of adherence to law and order as well as engaging government by dialoging on contentious matters in a way that does not endanger lives or property of innocent members of the public. Students should understand that they went to school to learn and not to cause confusion or lawlessness.
Further, I wish to advise students that government is open to dialogue and as such, we implore them to design forums and invite government officials or their representatives to discuss contentious issues such as government’s position on subsidies.
Students’ Unions in these institutions are therefore called upon to take their position of responsibility seriously and ensure that no student is left alone, to run amok on matters which do not have any benefit to the cause of the students in advancing their core business of study.
I wish to underscore that this is a government decision, made by cabinet at its sitting held on 20th May, 2013 but being made public the 27th day of May, 2013, in order to put the position of government beyond doubt in view of the growing worrying trend of students taking to the streets and in the process inconveniencing the innocent public every time a call for them to do so is made, even by people who are completely strangers to their reason for being in these institutions of learning.
Hon. Edgar Lungu, MP
ACTING REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT
27th May, 2013
Ichisungu ba LT!!
Alungu mweo.. napali mosi lager mwati muli mbwino,,napali press relizzi ka!! A sogoleli Alungu!! hahahahah
This move is likely to bring more confusion to the already confused students.Just drop the idea otherwise you risk bringing more problems.I can foresee the students using it as a scapegoat to do more damage.
they must restrict their inner confusion within themselves and never to spill it on us innocent Zambians, we have our own issues to deal with. we pay a lot of tax on our borders as Tamangas to pay for their education in return they stone us. good move Mr president. If they make more trouble please cage them at kamfinsa with their half degrees.
Don’t worry! We shall also use cabinet members’ salaries to pay for any costs incurred during bye elections. Fair game, tefyo?!
My brother its about time students take responsibility.Riots re a thing of the past and i don’t see why those students should cause us so much damage.Though i don’t agree with this government on some issues am with them on this one 100%. Those kids at Unza need to grow up.
l always thought that was the way to do it-protest peacefully without damaging property and organise forums for debate otherwise pasopo
This should have been thought of a long time ago.
I don’t understand Zambians, always sabotaging themselves.
A very good decision.These guys needs to be applauded for this.I also don`t see sense in breaking of property as a way of showing displeasure with the way certain things are run.I expect a person at university level education to behave in a mature and honorable manner.Aluta continua !!!
Word!
Except that education doesn’t really give someone wisdom. ( the ability to chose between right and wrong). Wisodom is from the Lord. There are too many educated fools…..educated and yet corrupt, educated and yet a thief, educated and yet a heavy smoker, educated and yet a prostitute, list goes on
Sense! There are consequences to every action. Hit the students where it hurts until they learn to express their grievances like grown ups.
I have no quarrel with this arrangement. President Lungu is very right. When I was at university I witnessed one lumpenela attempting to set the university buildings on fire. He poured petrol over a tyre and put it on a chair then set fire to it. The Vice Chancellor closed the university after the incident. Protests should be civil
Iwe Monko I think I know you. That was 86-87 I also rememb er the incident. I even know who started tHat fire. Students think they know better than anyone else
Thank you sir. We have never in the history of student movements witnessed such irresponsibility as we have seen in the recent past. What worries me is the tribalism these students have taken in propelling there financiers cause. Not all students are Bembas, Tongas or Lozis. please behave yourselves and lead as examples and not pawns for HaHaHa or Nevers Muhabi.
I conquer with the views advanced by @ 3.In future the students should exshaust all avenues of dialogue b 4 resorting 2 rioting.Infact rioting should not b condoned what we are supposed 2 c are peaceful demos.
The penalty imposed by goverment is unbiased.My own opinion is that they goverment should put up cctv so that thoz who are found wanting are caught on camera.
Iam appealing 2 thoz that are near 2 the corridors of power 2 convey my opinion 2 Hon Edgar Lungu.
President Lungu ! This will no doubt refrain them from stoning those cars in Jambo drive and great east roads.Kukalabafye ati “Ba monk noti ifyo pantu tatwakafole bursary ngatwatoba ifintu.Mulemona ati tukafunya kwisa ishakunwina kwakalingalinga nokusendelamo ifiwa?”
*Restrain not refrain*
No.9 you are the man. you must have been a monk before. Anyway, such a decision was long overdue. That’s why i like PF because thay are not afraid of making bold decisions.
Asright….. Elo balakula nomba. These students have acted as kids for a long time. When i was at University when you lose even a mop or broom it will be debited on your account 25% more than the market.. Hence we used to do our own repairs to any damaged University property to avoid the high cost. Thank God UNZA will now feel it. and all the ring leaders will be fished out, coz knowing Zedians no one wants to pay for anything. Charge the baffoons.
ISSE BETTER! We will see them ba fi colour. They think we are happy SUBSIDY- ising their education using our tax payers money! And they pay us back by being used by politicians as USEFUL I.D.I.O.T.S?
Just expel or withdraw the bursary from any student once singled out. Students should know that their rights end where other people’s rights begin. They should also know that the money they get as bursary comes from the same people whose property they like damaging.
Iwe Lungu are you sure your reasoning is correct. This cabinet is quite dull. Did you consider statistics? Your cabinet makes decisions using feelings without looking at statistics? Do you know that there is a good number of students not on Bursary who could take part in riots? Are you saying those on bursary will bear the cost os riots regardless of whether they took part or not? A number of degree students and all students pursuing diplomas are not on the bursary scheme. . .
@Chumbu, read the press realize again!
The statement says recoveries will be done “…through their bursaries or any other means available…if students involved are not singularly identifiable, then the whole body mass of students will be subjected to contributions toward the recoveries”
What this means is that if the student who takes part in a riot is not on bursary, a bill will be sent to the student to find a way to pay. It will be up to the culprit student to find the money. This in turn will force students to have very interesting conversations with their parents about unplanned bills.
Here in the USA, if you have any outstanding debt or unpaid bills to the University, you can graduate but the school will NOT release your degree until you pay up. UNZA can do the same!
how far has the case of professor chirwa gone?is he stil in zambia?
caged or holed in zambia
Batumpisha Abaiche aba,this is a very good decision by Government! Now I can claim for my damaged car by these st u pi d i diots!!
Well done Mr President! University students are expected to the reasonable in handling personal or national issues!
This is a courageous move taken by the Government. Keep it up we civilized our Nation.
Kalebalika Your Excellence!
he who makes a bed must sleep on it..full stop!
The rise and fall of pro clive chirwa.it does not pay to over rate one self.
Now let us wait for comments of the bloggers on the other online publication.
l know that the acting president is right but your excellence have mercy on them .These are young people who need everyday guidance I say this with a heavy heart because these are our own children and the money they get is not even enough .,Deductions will just make the situation worse.This does not in any way mean am supporting lawlessness but just pleading that they be made to reflect on their actions as they get forgiven
A.M
The bembas say that Kanyele kulukungu kutumpika umwana.This is a good move.Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Ukwanomics (‘ukwa’ meaning ‘no plan’ and ‘–nomics’ being a suffix from the word ‘economics’ meaning ‘the study of…’) is the scientific study of lies (bufi) and political rhetoric (resulting from having no plan) and how these negatively affect the economic situation of the country. Ukwanometry, on the other hand, is the study of trends and patterns of lies (bufi) and political rhetoric and how these fluctuate when plotted on the ukwanograph. The units used to measure ukwanomics are known as ukwanomes.
I agree with what the students were protesting against and I don’t agree with what Hon Lungu is insinuating that removal of subsidies on food and fuel doesn’t affect them. Hell No! It affects them 100%!
However the damaging of private and public property within and outside the campus is the worst kind of styopedit and primitivity that any kind of people can want to inflict on themselves and others. I have 3 sons studying in private Universities in Zambia and I pay through my nose and yet those few that are privileged to be paid for by public resources find it “convenient” to damage public property and still expect public resources to be ploughed back into repair, back to square one! Ma Labbishi! Be responsible!
That’ll make them demonstrate peacefully.
Yes this move is long overdue, students need to be responsible for their actions. Now they will learn to have peaceful demonstrations and not being violent to the extent of breaking property. Mr Lungu and Home Affairs should also consider putting up security cameras near UNZA where demonstrations are very common, we can identify those criminals masquerading as students!
The cameras will be the first things they will break.
Thanks Acting President Lungu, wakwatu.
Chizungu bati uyu chakolwa. He’s behaving as though he never went to Unza. George chellah you should have edited this drunkard’s statement. Sorry i forgot, you are in Ethiopia with your boss making fools out of yourselves. Chitata is such an embarassment with his gibberations.If you dont have anything to say Psycho Matter, just SHUT UP!
Excellent move Presido, these riots way back worked during the KK days as most vehicles and other properties where owned by GRZ meaning a stone into Great East rd landed on GRZ vehicle most likely. Now Zambians have moved overtime and it’s time students equally behaved in a correct way. They need sympathy from us who buy Ubunga, drive in GE rd and at the same time pay tax if not directly sponsor them. They need to change their ways say invite ZNBC and GRZ official then go live debate, this way their perspective will be appreciated. You students there are many ways think outside the box and be relevant to the situation even with a negative idea without violence.
This is a good move. As for Government, If they go and riot again after this move, please culprits who will be identified should expelled. These chaps should realize that even the bursaries they get comes from us tax payers. How do you go and smash a windscreen for someone that pays your school fees don’t you know that it’s through the people who are taxed that you are paid your monthly allowance and you enjoy subsided fees. I expect you to have a better understanding on subsidies than some of the people making noise especially you students in Economics
This is a good move. As for Government, If they go and riot again after this move, please culprits who will be identified should expelled. These chaps should realize that even the bursaries they get comes from us tax payers. How do you go and smash a windscreen for someone that pays your school fees don’t you know that it’s through the people who are taxed that you are paid your monthly allowance and you enjoy subsided fees. I expect you to have a better understanding on subsidies than some of the people making noise especially you students in Economics
Have a life man! When did you last visit UNZA??? Students sleeping like at Inter-city bus terminus – & you ask them to be grateful??? These days Bursaries are not 100%, students cough up a hefty percentage. Yes, they have a better understanding of Economics & reality – rightly so, as University is a place where you LEARN TO QUESTION THE STATUS QUO & CHALLENGE IT!!! So when Ministers & their “million” deputies get unjustifiable fuel allowances & salary increases, & other monies are wasted on people like Chikopa – students may indeed have a reason to question all this!!!
Tax payers, tax payers… Most of you commenting that don’t even work and pay that tax, so just shut your mouths and put those hands to better use other than sitting on the net the whole day while your friends who actually pay tax are making a living for themselves… So, who will pay for the damages the police make… You can’t put all the blame on the students and listen to pipo like edgar lungu who probably got his degree abroad and has no clue how the so called highest learning institution has become detoriated… It is not our fault that a certificate holding police man fired a canister into a room, lighting it on fire… That is the government damaging property, not the students… and do you remove from their wages to pay for that damage? Just leave our bc alone… When paying…
Agree with this sentiment! In our days riots always started by Govts interference, like getting shushushu’s to infiltrate campus; Kidnapping student leaders from their rooms in the early hours of the morning etc etc. Students always look to protesting peacefully, but when you set police on them – you can expect what you get!!
The bursaries that Lungu talks about are not even 100%, student fund a large percentage, their poor parents bare the burden & hence it is these same parents/relatives that students feel duty bound to protest on their behalf when all subsidies & fuel prices go up, whilst ministers & their deputies receive unjustified fuel allowances on top of their salary rises!!!! Students are able to read into this whilst the general populace may not!!!
Sometime back late president Mwanawasa had said that current graduates from UNZA are half baked. I 100% agree with him MHSRP
At least they are half baked, but talk of the kaponyas running the place, they haven’t even seen an oven!!!
@bauze you’ve really cracked my ribs!
This is no solution, as good & as sensible as it may sound, we have an environment where peaceful meetings & demonstrations are frowned upon by this govt! Permits by police are denied! E.g. NAREP having their private meeting in Kitwe, UPND trying to hold their rallies – Police are immediately set upon them – so what channels is Lungu talking about????? Students are not stupid – you are now asking them to “do the job properly!!”
It is govt frustrating democracy – boot them out.
iwe Lungu the university doesn’t have insurance, students can’t pay that colossal amount, Police are to blame also it takes two to tangle, in most country police are trained to avoid such things. I don’t think ZP followed all the safety precautions, we Zambians need to care about police brutality than pass the blame on students if thats the only way to voice their concerns besides we just had a government change orchestrated by violence
STUDENTS !YOU HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.FACEBOOK,TWEET,SMS.etc,DO THE NEEDFUL.BEGIN YOUR DECAMPAIGNING NOW.WHEN 2016 COMES VOTE WISELY,
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
only those who have never been to such institutions of higher learning will be in support of this move otherwise this is a democratic nation not dictatoral & therefore the move is of no sense. You cant silence students & be assured as long as we feel agrieved on some things, the activity of students wont stop. Let us just avoid them (the students) in such situations. The problem we motorists have is we want to show off even when we know the consequences
My brother you are lost.even in the UK you never hear students from Oxford breaking cars and destroying property.These students need to be civilized and if the demonstrate they do so peacefully.If somebody shows off in their car,whats it to you?They bought with their own money and it gives you no right to stone them.There is nothing special about UNZA students.In the workplace even people from other institutions are more productive.
Government should understand that students only behave like that when they are not heard. As much as it is important for students to refrain from such violent acts, government should adequately address issues raised by students. Students beleive that a right delayed is a right denied. just like the scenario in egypt, students can bring down mountains