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The Church says the family is an important social institution that can meaningfully contribute to both social dialogue and economic growth of any country.
Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) District Pastor Neeve Chooma, said marriage is a call to servant hood hence couples should always strive to work towards consolidating their marriages.
Pastor Chooma said this during a special sermon for 36 couples who renewed their marriage vows at the Njanji SDA Church in Lusaka yesterday.
The clergy urged the couples that marriage is an important institution ordained by god therefore they should keep their marriage vows.
Pastor Chooma observed that several problems arise from the premise of unfaithfulness, lack of communication hence the increase in a number of divorces.
And Njanji SDA church Family life director, Elder Peter Mongela commended the church administration for organizing the event as it has inspired several families.
Elder Mongela added that strong and stable families can significantly contribute to a vibrant country capable of overcoming social and economic challenges.
The SDA church organised the event to for 36 couples to renew their marriage vows in strengthening their families.
A senior government official in Kafue says the district remains committed to welcoming and supporting projects that contribute to the development of sexual and reproductive health and rights for young in the area.
Kafue District Commissioner Winford on the part of government. He says government recognizes the unchanged importance of lowering the population growth rate for the sake of development and reduction or poverty through reproductive health.
Mr. Ngoma said this yesterday during a tour of Youth Vision Zambia out reach youth project in Kafue by sic European Parliamentarians drawn from England, Ireland, Netherlands, Azerbaijan, Sweden and Scotland.
Mr. Ngoma stated that government’s efforts in reducing poverty, recognizes equal participation of all stakeholders as a key factor especially where young people are empowered. He said his office will ensure that institutions such as the ministry of health work closely with organizations involved in reproduction health development and rights for young people.
Mr. Ngoma appealed o the visiting parliamentarians to consider lobbying for the increase in support of youth and adolescent sexual and reproduction health activities in the country when they go back to their countries.
And delegation leader of the parliamentarians Baroness Susan Thomas of Walliswood from Scotland said the parliamentarians were on a familiarization and study tour focusing on reproduction health care development in the district. She said Zambia remained potentially vulnerable in addressing issues of reproductive health care and HIV/AIDS in the face of economic challenges.
Baroness Thomas said the outcome of the visit of the parliamentarians is to ensure they go back to their countries and lobby for more support towards the area of sexual reproductive health development in Zambia. She expressed happiness at the projects the team visited adding that more can achieved with further support.
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Jazzman Chikwakwa
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Jazzman Chikwakwa is disappointed with the rampant mis-use of government time and resources by civil servants in the province.
Mr. Chikwakwa observed that government workers in the province were in a tendency of reporting late for work and knocking off early before the stipulated time contrary to the Terms and Conditions of the Service number 58 (a) and 59 (a) respectively.
He said by reporting late for work and knocking off early before the stipulated time officers were not adhering to the public service code of conduct.
Mr. Chikwakwa said that this tendency by civil servants in the Province has inhibited government’s effective servicing of the public.
This is contained in his memorandum to all heads of government departments which he also copied to Secretary to the cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja.
He noted that officers normally left offices without prior permission from their supervisors.
Mr. Chikwakwa has since directed all Heads of Government Departments in the Province to introduce attendance registers for officers at their respective places of work to monitor and curb the misuse of government time.[quote]
He said the officers should be compelled to sign the attendance registers by indicating the time they report for work and when they knock off daily.
Mr. Chikwakwa also directed officers to avoid unnecessary movements during working hours saying this created inefficiency amongst members of staff.
He said that the measure was aimed at controlling the rampant misuse of government time by ensuring that officers concentrated on their line of work of serving the public in the province.
Mr. Chikwakwa warned to take stern action against officers who would not comply with his directive in the Province .
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord”
(Romans 12:19, AMP).
Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria
We all go through situations where we’re not being treated fairly. Maybe somebody is talking behind your back or trying to make you look bad, maybe you were overlooked for a promotion or cheated in a business deal. When we’re being mistreated, the natural thing is to try to defend ourselves and set the record straight. Human nature wants to get even and get revenge. But the scripture says, “Vengeance is Mine… says the Lord.” That means God wants to make your wrongs right. He wants to pay you back for every unfair thing that has happened. He is a God of justice.
Notice what today’s scripture says: you can either avenge yourself or you can let God be your avenger, but you can’t have it both ways. If you take matters into your own hands, then God is going to step back and say, “Go ahead, do it your way. Looks like you don’t need My help.” But on the other hand, if we choose to stay on the high road and say, “No, I’m going to let God be my avenger and trust God to bring justice into my life”, then you are leaving the way open for God to move mightily on your behalf!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You asking that You be my vindicator. I choose to release all those who have hurt me and every wrong done to me. Fill me with your peace and love. I trust that You are working on my behalf, and I look for Your goodness in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Police in Mpulungu have arrested a 50 year old man of Musende Village for attempting to sell his two daughters at K15 million each.
Both Mpulungu police and District Social Welfare Officer, Sebastian Passuwa confirmed the development and named the culprit as Juma Chishimba, originally a resident of Kazembe Village in Luapula Province.
Chishimba allegedly attempted to sell his two little girls, identified as Maureen Kazembe and Magrime Lukwesa, who are nine and four years old respectively, because, according to him, he had suffered a lot and wanted some money to buy a house and become rich, using the K30 million he would have realized from the transaction.
Chishimba was apprehended yesterday at Mbita Rest House, where the transaction was planned to take place, after officers from the Department of Social Welfare, Child Protection Unit, tricked him that they had found him a buyer for his two children.
In an interview with today, Social Welfare Officer, Passuwa said on Wednesday, he was approached by George Ali Mwale, a Muslim who told him that there was a man who had approached his organization saying that he wanted to sell them some children.
‘’ That was when we made arrangements to meet this man and after we confirmed that he was indeed serious with his business idea, we tipped the police and one of the officers pretended to be a buyer from Dubai and we were to act as middlemen,’’ Passuwa stated.
According to Passuwa, Juma chishimba said he wanted to sell the children to Muslims in Mpulungu, who he believed were in turn, going to sell the children in Dubai or Tanzania, adding that in Kazembe Village where he hails from, many people had sold their children in the same manner and were now rich.
He said, Chishimba initially wanted to sell the children in Kitwe or Mufurila on the Copperbelt, where he said he unfortunately had no connections to do the selling.
‘’ At mbita Rest House, Juma voluntarily signed that he was ready to sell the children to the police officers whom he thought were businessmen from Dubai, convinced by their dressing and language. An installment of K500, 000 was given to him, which he hurriedly pocketed and agreed that he would be paid the rest of the money at the bank,’’ Passuwa narrated.
Passuwa said this is the second reported case of child trafficking in Mpulungu, saying the first was reported in 2007 when two men sold a child at K20, 000,000.
The two men were later convicted by the Mpulungu Magistrates court and committed to the high court.
They are currently serving 26 year jail terms each, but the little innocent child has never been seen again.
Passuwa said there is need for massive sensitization in communities on child trafficking in Mpulungu, saying just like child sexual abuse cases were in the past muted, a lot of child-trafficking is going on unreported in the district.
Passuwa said that, because of sensitization, child sexual abuse cases have been curbed, adding that, in the same vein, child-trafficking cases can be ended through massive sensitization.
He called for the establishment of a child care facility where to keep the abandoned children in Mpulungu where he said there is currently no place to care for the children who are abused or abandoned by their parents or guardians.
‘’ Four children have been reported abandoned by their parents at present, but luckily two of these are keeping up at Senior Chief Tafuana’s palace, while the other two are being looked after by some kind neighbors in their respective villages.
Juma chishimba is currently in police custody and will soon appear in court for child-trafficking.
President Rupiah Banda says people who are bent on criticizing most of his government’s developmental programmes, among them the plans to purchase mobile hospitals, might regret in future.
President Banda said people should not criticize well-meaning programmes which government undertakes because they are for the benefit of the Zambian people.
He said in Blantyre yesterday that mobile hospitals might not be appreciated in the urban areas but they would be very useful in rural areas where many people do not have access to medical services.
He warned Zambians against listening to his detractors who were speaking against government’s intention to acquire mobile hospitals at the cost of US$ 53 million from China.
Mr. Banda, who was in Malawi to attend the inauguration of President Bingu wa Mutharika, said it is unfortunate that some people were criticizing government for buying 100 hearses, which he said would be very useful to rural people.
He likened what his government was currently going through, to the experience of Dr. Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) during his first term of office, when parliament threatened not to approve the budget because they wanted to make it difficult for him to govern the country.
President Banda said some Malawians thought they were making President Mutharika unpopular but he proved them wrong, when he tremendously improved the economy of that country.[quote]
In the just ended elections in Malawi, Dr. Mutharika got a landslide victory, with most Malawians attributing this to his hard work and resolve to improve the welfare of all Malawians.
And President Banda said Zambia would learn a lot of lessons from the just ended presidential and parliamentary elections in Malawi, which saw Dr. Mutharika’s party winning by popular vote through out the country.
The economy of Malawi grew by an average of 7.5 per cent during Dr. Mutharika’s first four years in office and over 9.0 per cent last year.
Mr. Banda hailed the government of Malawi for electing a woman for the position of vice president and many other female candidates as members of parliamentary.
Commerce, Trade and Industry has described the just ended 6th Zambia International Business Advisory Council [ZIBAC] conference as a success.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent secretary James Mulungushi said the conference was an eye opener on what Zambia should do to over come the turbulent waves of the global economic Crisis.
Dr. Mulungushi said government working hand in hand with the private sector and its cooperating partners will implement polices that are tailored at reducing the cost of doing business in the country.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He explained that the reduction in the cost of doing business in the country will enable both local and international investors to invest in various sectors of the economy.
Dr. Mulungushi said Massive investment would in turn create jobs for the local adding that in long ran reduces on the high poverty levels in the country.
Dr. Mulungushi further said there was urgent need to diversify the economy with main focus on Agriculture, Tourism, infrastructure enhancement and information Communication technology.
He said government will focus on the development of the rail and road infrastructure of the North-South Corridor adding that this will enhance efficiency, productivity and ultimately lead to competitiveness among those in the commercial, Trade and Industry sector.
President Banda officiated and attended the conference.
The conference was attended by representatives of Zambia cooperating partners, members of the private sector and government officials.
which was held in Livingstone from the 19th to 21 with the theme ”solutions on how Zambia can grow and remain a competitive investment destination, in the face of the Global Economic Crisis”.
Government says it has approved K7.3 billion for the implementation of various development programmes in Central Province this year.
Vice President George Kunda said this today, when he addressed scores of Serenje residents at Kaunda Square. Mr. Kunda said the money will be used in the construction of schools, health centers,the rehabilitation of roads and many other development programmes.
He said this is in line with government’s commitment enshrined in the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP)and the Vision 2030.
Mr. Kunda further said Serenje district will this year receive K1.8 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF). He said the funds released are aimed at enhancing development in all the parts of Serenje district.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kunda has called on farmers in Central Province and Zambia as a whole to embark on crop diversification, with a view of enhancing food security in the nation.
He urged the Zambian farmers to go into crop diversification, which he described as key to helping the country to address the various challenges associated with the global economic downturn.
He said government is working out modalities aimed at reviewing the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP, in order to make it more effective in responding to the various needs of the peasant farmers in the country.
Mr. Kunda further said, government is putting in place, remedial measures to revive the country’s agricultural sector, by opening up the Nansanga farming block.
Mr. Kunda, who is also Muchinga Member of Parliament, said, government opened up the Nansanga farming block with a view to enhancing food security and boosting the country’ employment creation.
The Vice President further said, government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, is working on a programme to expedite the construction of dams, roads and the electrification of the Nansanga Farming Block.
Mr. Kunda called on foreign investors to take advantage of the favourable agricultural environment and invest heavily in the sector.
The republican Vice President is in Central Province to inspect progress on development programmes.
ZANIS
Defending champions Zesco United suffered a minor blimp in the title race while Power Dynamos coach Mohamed Fathy had something to smile about today.
Faz Premier League
23/05/2009
Week 11
Zanaco 3-Nakambala Leopards 1
Zanaco maintained a 3-point lead at the top of the Faz Premier Division table after an emphatic 3-1 home win over winless and bottom of the table Nakambala Leopards at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
Winston Kalengo and Henry Banda were on target for Zanaco.
Not to be left out on the act was the leagues top scorer Patrick Kabamba who scored his 9th goal of the season from 10 matches played.
Choma Eagles strengthen their credentials as one of the best two promoted side this season when they beat visiting Young Arrows 1-0 in Maamba today.
Oscar Kachinka 76th minute goal saw Choma rise from 6th to 5th place on 14 points.
Red Arrows 1-Chambishi 0
Arrows moved out of the demotion zone after beating fellow strugglers Chambishi 1-0 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka courtesy of a Timothy Mbewe goal.
Konkola Blades 1-Power Dynamos 2
Power won their first league match since March 21 after a 2-1 away victory over Konkola Blades at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
However, Power had to come from 1-0 down in the first half to collect only their third win of the season after Chipulu Chileya put Blades ahead in the 21st minute.
Luka Lungu equalized 15 minutes from fulltime before Elson Mkandawire scored the winner in the 88th minute to ease the pressure on Fathy.
Roan United 1-Zesco United 1
Zesco picked up their second draw of the season but slipped 6 points off the pace on 16 points after drawing 1-1 away to Roan United at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya.
Arthur Kasoloki put Roan ahead via a 1st minute penalty but Maybin Mwaba made sure Zesco remained unbeaten with the equalizer in the 52nd minute.
Green Buffaloes 1-Kabwe Warriors 0
Buffaloes moved from 3rd to 2nd place on 19 points after an untidy 1-0 home win over visiting Kabwe Warriors at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
The winner came in the 77th minute through Reuben Tembo who volleyed in the ball from the edge of the box from a cross following a swift move and assist on the opposite wing from Edward Museba.
Forest Rangers 1- City of Lusaka 1
Kameta Mutambo scored his 6th goal of the season when he put Forest 1-0 ahead in the 11th minute but City spoiled the hosts party at Dola Hill when Aaron Silwimba leveled in the 64th minute.
Zamtel-Lusaka Dynamos (Not played)*
*Zamtel players are on industrial action over pay arrears dating back to last season while they were in division 1 north.
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Bennie Tetamashimba has surrendered to the Ministry of Health an official being probed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in connection with the theft of K10 billion.
Mr Tetamashimba said in an interview in Livingstone yesterday that he did not want the beleaguered official at his ministry and decided to take him back to the Health Ministry where he was working at the time he acquired the wealth which was now under probe.
He said that he had instructed his Permanent Secretary Coillard Chibbonta to send the employee back to the Ministry of Health where he came from because he did not want his ministry to get entangled in corrupt activities.
He said he wanted all the issues surrounding the official to be sorted out by the law enforcement officers and the Health Ministry where he was based at the time of allegedly committing the offences.
Mr Tetamashimba said he was in Bahamas with Mr Chibbonta when the scam was unearthed and advised the permanent secretary to suspend the official.
The minister said some opposition leaders had been in the forefront of accusing the Government of being corrupt but had failed to condemn the K10 billion scam because those involved financed their campaigns.
President Rupiah Banda on Thursday deplored the continued thefts among civil servants and asked Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja to ensure that all those implicated in corrupt practices were removed.[quote]
The ACC said yesterday that it had made headway in the probe into the theft of the K10 billion and would submit names of officers implicated to Dr Kanganja next week for action.
The commission said the matter was not only complicated but also required thorough investigations before names of suspects and those involved could be forwarded to Dr Kanganja.
ACC chairperson, Justice Valentine Chileshe said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the commission hoped to effect some arrests soon.
He said the commission had been working with a team of auditors from the Auditor General’s office to establish the extent and involvement of the various officials at the Ministry of Health in the transactions in question.
In another development, the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) has said it will not defend any individuals involved in abuse of public funds meant for the development of the country.
CSAWUZ deputy general secretary Betty Mutambo was reacting to recent revelations of abuse of public resources in the various Government ministries by some civil servants.
Speaking during the Ministry of Energy and Water Development Labour Day prize giving ceremony in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Mutambo said the union would not defend any corrupt civil servants who have selfishly abused public funds meant for the development of the country.
Ms Mutambo said the union was dismayed by the level of corrupt practices among the civil servants.
Former President Frederick Chiluba at the magistrate court
THE Lusaka magistrates court says it will pass judgment in the case involving former President Chiluba and two others even without submissions from the former head of State.
Making the ruling yesterday, Ndola High Court Registrar Jones Chinyama, sitting as magistrate, said he will not consider any submissions made after the stipulated time as his orders were that the defence files its submissions by April 24, 2009, while the State is expected to respond by June 22, 2009.
This is in the case in which Chiluba, Access Finance Services executive director Aaron Chungu and Lusaka businessman Faustin Kabwe are charged with theft of public funds amounting to almost $500,000.
Mr Chinyama said he would proceed with judgment set for July 20, 2009, on the assumption that Chiluba decided not to file any written submissions.
“The court will proceed on assumption that A1 (Chiluba) decided not to submit. I can’t extend the date of judgment,” he said.
When the court asked Chiluba why his written submissions had not been filed, he said he was just learning of the development.
The accused persons who appeared for mention are being represented by John Sangwa and Robert Simeza, who were not before court.
In his application, Task Force on Corruption prosecutor Mutembo Nchito submitted that the State has not received submissions in respect of Chiluba and that even the submissions for the other two accused persons were only submitted three weeks after the stipulated date.
Mr Nchito argued when the trio appeared for mention that the State did not know why the defence team was not before court.[quote]
He told the court that it would be difficult for the State to file submissions without taking into account issues raised on Chiluba.
“In the interest of justice, unless the court directs otherwise, it will be difficult for us to file submissions without taking into account issues raised on behalf of A1 (Chiluba),” he said.
Mr Nchito submitted that the State has had problems getting the defence team to observe dates set by the court and that the defence did not inform the prosecution on the delay to file submissions.
And Chiluba’s spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba said in an interview that the defendants’ lawyers have been instructed to make an urgent application seeking the court’s permission to file out of time.
He said the development was out of an administrative arrangement where Mr Sangwa specifically dealt with Chungu and Kabwe while Mr Simeza dealt with Chiluba.
President Rupiah Banda says the re-election of Malawi’s President, Bingu wa Mutharika in the country’s just ended presidential elections was an indication that Malawians were satisfied with his performance in the previous term of office.
President Mutharika was sworn in to lead Malawi for the second and final five year term of office after being declared winner of the May 19, general election by the Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Anastasia Msosa .
In the first four years of Dr. Mutharika’s governance, the economy of Malawi grew by an average of 7.5 per cent per annum while in 2008, the economy grew by over 9 per cent.
“It is a great thing for the people of Malawi. Before we used to analyse Malawi by provinces but this time you have shown us that you are satisfied with the work of a particular president in all the regions in Malawi,” Mr Banda told local journalists in Blantyre yesterday.
He noted that the fading away of regionalism in the way people voted in the past was commendable.
Mr. Banda pointed out that this development was encouraging, adding that Zambia would learn a lot of lessons in terms of political and economic development from the Malawian government.
He further urged the people of Malawi to be strong because this was Zambia wish.
President Mutharika garnered a total of 2,730,630 votes against his closest rival, John Tembo who had polled 1,270,057 votes. This was out of the 93.25 per cent of the confirmed information from 3,634 polling stations out of the 3,897 stations across the country.
There are currently nearly six million registered voters in Malawi, a country lying on an area of 118,480 square kilometres and a population of over 13 million people.
And President Mutharika pledged in his acceptance and inaugural speech that he would embrace all Malawians, including opposition political parties, in governance in order to guarantee and foster social, economic and political development of Malawi.
He said amid applauses from thousands of people who gathered at the ceremony that dialogue and reconciliation among all Malawians, and unity of common purpose was an important factor that would help develop the economy of the country further.
He outlined his government’s development agenda and strategies, among them prioritizing agriculture development, increasing energy generation, improving road network and transportation, education and health sectors.
Yesterday, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the European Union and the African Union election observation missions said in their preliminary findings of the elections that the election was free and fair and reflected the will of the people of Malawi.
The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) election observer missions have also declared the election as free and fair, adding that they were held under a tranquil and peaceful environment.
Head of COMESA Election Observer Mission, Otema Musuka, said at a press briefing here today that the mission did not witness any occurrence that could have compromised the integrity of the votes cast.
“Looking at the country as a whole and taking into consideration the foregoing, the mission has come to the conclusion that the 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections for the Republic of Malawi took place in an environment of peace and tranquility,” Mr. Musuka said.
Mr. Musuka noted that the election took place in a transparent environment that was secure enough to guarantee the freedom of the vote and respect the will of voters.
“The mission, therefore, considers that the votes cast and declared thus far as a true reflection of the will of the people of Malawi in the 2009 presidential and parliamentary election,” he added.
He congratulated the people of Malawi for the peaceful election and a huge turn out to cast the votes, which he said was an important ingredient to the development of democracy.
EU Election Mission Chief Observer, Luisa Morgantini, said the elections were held in a manner where fundamental freedoms and rights of assembly, expression and movement were respected.
“The people of Malawi turned out to cast their ballots in high numbers demonstrating an awareness and commitment to an election which represents a step forward the consolidation of democracy,” she said.
Laupula Province Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa has directed Milenge District Council to avail him with details on how it utilized K400 million Constituency Development Fund following financial irregularities that have characterized the local authority.
Mr. Chikwakwa threatened to hand over the matter to government investigation wings if the council fails to avail his office with the details of how the money was used.
The audit conducted at the council revealed appalling alleged abuse of public resources meant for development and poverty reduction in the district. [quote]
The permanent Secretary said his office initiated an internal audit on the local authority to verify allegations that the CDF allocation for 2008 had not been properly managed.
Mr. Chikwakwa said the recent internal audit report which checked and examined records and documents of the council, covering the period of August 2008 to May 5 this year, expressed concern over the way the finances were being used at the council.
He said cases ranges from unaccounted K56 million to the conversion of materials into cash by Area Ward Councilors.
Other suspected incidents involve undelivered building materials, unapproved payments and many others.
ZANIS
A 12-year-old pupil of Chilongoshi Basic School has been admitted to Kasama General Hospital after being caned by his teacher.
Northern Province Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) acting chairperson Maybin Chilufya revealed the development to ZANIS in Kasama yesterday that the incident happened on Tuesday, this week.
Mr. Chilufya, who identified the victim as Evans Musonda, said the pupil was repeatedly caned on his left palm by his teacher resulting in him sustaining serious injuries.
He said the teacher allegedly beat-up the pupil for refusing to do manual work within the school premise.[quote]
Mr. Chilufya explained that after injuring the boy, the teacher is alleged to have attempted to bribe the father to the child by offering him K100, 000 cash.
However, some alert CCPU members thwarted the illegal transaction and the injured pupil was then rushed to hospital for medical attention.
The condition of the pupil, who is said to be in grade six, has been described as stable.
The suspect has not yet been apprehended.
Efforts to get a comment from Northern Province police Chief Charles Lungu failed by press time.
However, the Ministry of Education banned corporal punishment in all schools in the country sometime back and any teacher found abrogating the law risked disciplinary action including prosecution for causing bodily harm to an individual.
Students at Mansa College of Education (MACE) yesterday morning staged a demonstration to press for change of management at the institution.
The students demonstrated to push for the removal of College Principle Steven Zeko and his registrar alleging that the two had failed to run the institution properly.
The students through their Union representatives alleged that the named officers were in the habit of suspending and punishing students for unclear reasons.
The students said that the principle had suspended three students and refused to attend to their sick counterpart who had reported late for this term despite explaining her condition.[quote]
The students further said that the principle had developed a school activity calendar which did not allow students to concentrate to their studies.
“we are made to wake up at 05:00 hours to garden and work in the piggery up to 06:30 when we go for breakfast. At 08 hours we have to report for lectures until 16 hours when we knock off to do production unit up to 18 hours daily.
we don’t have time to study on our own as we are always tired,” the student leaders said.
The students also demonstrated to push management at the school to reduce the passing mark from 65 percent to 45 percent.
They said that the 65 percent pass mark was unrealistic because other teacher training colleges in the country were still using the 45 percent cut off point.
“When students fail to get 65 percent they are made to stand in front during assemblies this is unacceptable for a higher learning institution were some of these students have families, it’s very humiliating,” the students said.
The students begged the PEO to intervene by removing the college principle and his registrar.
But College Principle said the students had been incited to demonstrate by some lecturers whom he has cited for financial embezzlement at the institution.
Mr. Zeko said since his becoming principle at the school he had noted some irregular behavours amongst some lecturers and students such as late reporting for lessons and he had made sure that such cases are properly disposed off according to the laid down regulations.
He said some lecturers are not happy with his tight management of the institution hence the riot.
ZANIS
