MINISTER of Education John Phiri and Minister of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili have assured University of Zambia students that the university will close as scheduled on October 31.
Tension, according to students, has been building up following rumours that the university management wants the institution to close on September 4 for renovations and to allow for the forthcoming Zone Six All-Africa Games.
“Rehabilitation works for UNZA will be done in two phases starting with external works. This is to avoid disrupting the academic life of the institution. The two ministers would like to reassure the university community and the general public that the academic calendar will run as scheduled,” the ministers said in a jointly signed statement.
Students union president Ali Thunkara had earlier said his union would today engage management to clarify the matter, which can breed more unrest after last Friday’s riots and protest marches.
“There has been lack of communication between the two ministries and the students are very critical in analysing these issues,” he said.
Mr Thunkara said students have been having heated debates over the matter since Friday and that some students are for the closure of the university to pave way for the renovations of hostels for the games while others are opposed.
Meanwhile, students have finally been paid their semester upkeep bursary allowances following last Friday’s assurance by government.
Mr Thunkara confirmed that students had started receiving their allowances yesterday.
He said the bursary committee had deposited money into the students’ accounts and those with accounts at Finance Bank had been paid by 10:00 hours while those saving with Zanaco were expecting the money later in the day.
“The students have started receiving their meal allowances. Finance Bank credited the money in the morning while those at Zanaco should be receiving their money by 14:00 hours…the morale among students is high and they are excited,” he said.
And sources at UNZA have also attributed the unrest to poor sanitary conditions, accusing resident engineers of neglecting the institution.
“The poor sanitary conditions are also irritating students. We are having fierce debates every evening since Friday about these issues…resident engineers are not doing much and we still have pathetic sanitary conditions.
If the resident engineers do their work, we can survive up to October 31 but if not, then I am afraid there could be problems over sanitation,” the sources said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
