The University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road Campus Management has appealed for calm among the students as their meal allowances are being processed and will be ready next week.
UNZA students rioted on Thursday night following failure by government to pay them their student loans since August.
In a statement issued to media in Lusaka yesterday, UNZA Public Relations Manager, Damaseke Chibale said UNZA management finds the riot unwarranted as the allowances are been processed and should be in student’s accounts early next week.
“UNZA management finds the riot unwarranted as the allowances are being processed and should be in student’s accounts early next week,” Mr. Chibale said.
And a 4th year student, Vespers Shimuzhila from the school of Adult Education at the institution died due to suffocation during protests by students over unpaid allowances.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chibale has sent profound condolences to the bereaved family of Ms. Shimuzhila over her demise.
Mr. Chibale also wished God’s comfort and strength to Everntyn Choongo, a second year student in the school of education who is receiving treatment at University Teaching Hospital.
Last evening, police officers allegedly threw teargas canisters in her room and it is believed she was asthmatic and could not escape the smoke that had engulfed the October Hostel which she occupied.
And Zambia Police Spokesperson, Esther Katongo also confirmed the death of Shimuzhila stating that the student died at the Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital where she was rushed for treatment.
Ms. Katongo said the cause of the fire is yet to be established and Police officers have continued patrolling the campus to keep vigil.
Ba mai baja mwamene baonekela pa manso, ndiye mwamene mutima wao ulili, how do you ban student unions, through which channel do expect students to air their grievances? Vespers looks like a bookworm to me, i doubt if she was part of bamene benze kuchi vivula ku road.
UNZA alumni shame on you. This school produced for free great doctors, lawyers, engineers etc. some living abroad, some local with thriving careers who can’t even give back to the school either financially or donating time. That building needs a fresh coat of paint or blasting.
How do you think schools like Harvard, Yale make it? It is through former students and well wishers. We need to help our government to develop our country. It doesn’t matter who is in power. It’s our country please let’s make the best of it!
# 1.1 The Real Olivia Pope
“..UNZA alumni shame on you……
How do you think schools like Harvard, Yale make it? It is through former students and well wishers….”
Not true, schools like Harvard and Yale make it because the US government pays them their tuition fees on time from the student loans scheme….. GRZ is failing to pay UNZA and the students their tution fees and allawances from the student loans…
I CAN’T SIDE GOVERNMENT’S FOR BEHAVIOR IN DELAYING STUDENT’S MEAL ALLOWANCES THOUGH I WILL DEFINITELY BACK IT WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING RIOTING STUDENTS TO ORDER. NEITHER DO I SEE STUDENTS BEHAVIOR IN TAKING TO THE STREETS IN THE MOST OUTDATED MANNER OF RIOTING WHEN DEMANDING FOR THAT MONEY FOR FOOD. GOING FORWARD, NORMAL PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
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To eliminate this unfortunate incidence from recurring, we have to face the facts. A bitter fact on the part of students for that matter. Unconditional abolishment and withdrawal of payment of meal allowances for students with no replacement. One government will have to finally halt this exercise to save lives.
#Real Olivia Pope I agree that the UNZA alumini should help but do you realise that many people try to help and are just hindered by the bureaucracy at UNZA/Zambia. There was a time we had a project which was willing to pay a few student from UNZA to participate. The department there was very unhelpful and not willing to provide the students.A few years later we tried again and yet again UNZA wasn’t willing even though its own students were going to benefit at no cost to UNZA. Zambians abroad always think of people back home but we are looked at as enemies and any money we want to invest looked at with suspicion. We need to remove bureaucratic barriers.
The Real Olivia Pope – Dont just post things you dont know especially about university fundin…Schools like Havard charge hundreds of thousands of dollars a year per student just to study there for both local and especially foreign students. Moreover the Zambian govt hardly pays the CBU and UNZA the full 100% grant money on time (they have never paid 100%) …mind you even lecturers have not been paid…today its a case of who makes the loudest noise to be paid.
Meanwhile MPs are enjoying allowances and hefty salaries with renovated flats and a new renovated brothel in the name of Parliament Motel….just to shout yah yah yah everyday.
Sad episode and an accident.
They only assurance is that it cannot be president.
SO WHY DID YOU NOT TELL THE STUDENTS THIS A WEEK AGO !!!!!!!! NOW SUDDENLY MEAL ALLOWANCES WILL BE PAID – THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF MAKING SURE NO ONE MAKES A NOISE ABOUT TEARGAS BEING FIRED INTO RESIDENCES. SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!!!!!!
We are dealing with a reactive government and not a proactive, remember when Africa confidential brought the social cash transfer story, they said it was fake news, until the twitter came out, then suddenly and mysterious money appeared in a zanaco acc, now after a death someone’s child at unza they have found the money to pay the students.
And why didn’t they riot a week before..?
During UNIP and the KK administration, Unza students rioted over delayed meal allowances; during the MMD and the FTJ, LPM and RB administrations Unza students had rioted over delayed meal allowances. Under the PF and during the MCS government, students rioted over delayed meal allowances. Now we have ECL they are still protesting over food money. Now a responsible Zambia should put this to a stop. Delayed meal allowances payment will always be there. It is an archaic method of twisting Govt’s arm to pay money for food but to save lives, just Abolish it.
The PF govt has no money ..its a case of who shouts loudest, they are simply moving money all over or misappropriating money the place…they even have the cheek to return Donor money as if they are smart and rich just because they are cornered and trying to cover their theft.
Look at those rundown ugly hostels unfit for human habitation. Edgar Lungu has really taken Zambia to the dogs with nationwide rot and high debts.
@3; This started way before Mr Lungu became president. Have you ever called UNZA to see how best you can be used as a Zambian? The moment we get it through our skulls that govt can’t solely solve all problems, then only will Africa develop.
Look at HH busy inciting and wagging his tail like a D0G when he sees UNZA rioting. He forgets he is a UNZA alumnus who can help UNZA financially because truth be told, he benefited from privatization. President Lungu is also an alumnus and am yet to see him with a tin of paint in his hands to help out.
@Real Olivia just bcoz you inherit rotten systems doesn’t mean you become lazy like others.Paul Kagame inherited a ruined country but now look at exemplary Rwanda.
Olivia poop, with your pf neanderthal mentality, if HH was to go and renovate unza with his own hard earned money, you will send hordes of barbarians from intercity bus stop to stop him and call for his arrest.
Lazy Lungu is a fraud ….both as a former UNZA student as Wynter stated and a Zambian …everything he does is opposite…how can a President not show himself when a Zambian life is lost only a Chinese life would see him host a press conference.
African leadership is a shameful story……bwafya. they make similar mistakes before they are kicked out
That’s because the lack knowledge of self..they would rather hide behind the oppressors book called the bible which is also a fraud in itself. Just listen to the teachings of Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba and Prof. Lumumba.
Africans chabe’ especially P.F Ng’wangwazi’s,
Why does it have to take the death of a poor innocent soul, before someone gets their finger out of their r3c.tum, & finally processes the cash??
WHAT HAVE THESE USELESS P.F, GOONS BEEN DOING ALL ALONG, APART FROM DIPPING THEIR LONG SMELLY FINGERS IN THE NATIONAL TREASURY, & REPLACING THE CASH ONCE FOUND OUT??
Alungu Pombe Chakolwa, must go with his gang of merciless Rodents.
JONA POMBE KUYABEBELE!!
You are right politicians are kicked out for the same reasons others have made previously but this one seems to be worse.
Why was prof Lumumba allowed in Tanzania
Why was he blocked in Zambia.
Two countries are managed differently. Even this simple text I had to change my stage name to post it yet sharon is allowed to post whatever he wants
We are under stage. Pf wants to use ignorance to rule us
They shut membes post. Allowed daily nation to flourish
They put an illiterate in charge of lusaka province and one in charge of lusaka
LT Editor will ban your IP address and vigorously monitor your posts even delete them…they would rather have a dull kid by the name you have mentioned poop all over their website spewing rubbish about his silly HH and paint everyone as fellow cadres.
Today in Zambia people are so scared that they hardly reply to text and comments on Whatsup for fear of being prosecuted
They have barred one of my IP addresses …..only that I have acsses to a few networks that I am able to post…
Why was prof Lumumba allowed in Tanzania
Why was he blocked in Zambia.
Two countries are managed differently. Even this simple text I had to change my stage name to post it yet sharon is allowed to post whatever he wants
We are under stage. Pf wants to use ignorance to rule us
They shut membes post. Allowed daily nation to flourish
They put an illiterate in charge of lusaka province and one in charge of lusaka
If you have Kaizer a former lab assistant and Freedom Sikazwe an Auto mechanic certificate holder as Presidential Advisers what do you expect…they only thing the fear is their bottom line…Lazy Lungu is simply a tool for them a weak leader who can not even face anybody including Zambians who elected him.
The country is bleeding. How do you give k2.5 b to kampyongo for POA.
Mr Lungu you are now staining your hands with blood. Take kampyongo to southern provincial minister not home affairs
Because Zambians are a docile and timid people …they just complain behind closed doors when drinking alcohol then after hungover its over…today they are paying internet call tax and toll fees twice. …fuel has gone up due to PF recklessness but come by-election they will not even vote for an independent candidate.
Look at the threads on previous articles through out this week or month ..the resident PF bloggers with half a brain have quietly been disappearing/ changing aliases/ tax pinching them… leaving behind the hardcore stone throwing dullards who can not see life beyond PF for them its a matter of survival.
How can you feel if tasila was killed by tear gass
The dindnt want to participate in riots and she locked her self in a room.
Then PF throws a teargass through the window and they apologize.
You only apologize when something is by done by mistake NOT intentionally
Tasila would never study at UNZA so he can not feel anything..moreover his nationality is questionable. Tasila was in US few years ago today she is now a Philanthropist…sinking a hundred boreholes that cost $10,000 just like that.
Come on. This confrontation between police and students has been going on for eons. Those in government leadership were themselves part of this at one time or the other. Surely by now we could have worked out rules of engagement for student protests (outside of banning things and unions which do not serve ANY purpose). Let’s behave like grown ups for once in our fcuking lives. Taking zero-sum measures will always result in these unfortunate terminal incidents. Students have the right to protest when a promise is broken, just as citizens will protest when government lies to them. Is that so hard to comprehend?
Confrontations have been going on between Police and Students for years even during KK’s time but never in those years was a hostel burnt down or was teargas thrown in hostels …the rules of engagement were to push students back to their halls and contain them not killing them.
This ugly “Havard of Zambian education” is in worse shape than high schools in poor inner cities here. Bwana Lungu shame on ya.
The wages of voting for arrogant thieves, this is what you get killing a citizen not a bother to them. In a normal functioning country the leader would have spoken and visited the deceased’s family. We need to reclaim our country back from these rats before they kill us all for speaking out
You see Lazy Lungu has been cowering like he did during Black Mountain accident, FIC Report, Biti Deportation etc…this is the time when a leader stands up and hosts a PRESS CONFERENCE AT STATE HOUSE…instead he is sending Dora and Amos who say whatever they want as they know they is not leadership. He can not sack Police IG (PIG) or Lusaka Police Commissioner because they all receive orders from State House.
*…there is no leadership.
A failed state under pf. This does not surprise me. Welcome to the new Zimbabwe
The problem with you chaps is you think ..you can just sit there and think you are the alternative. ..even democracy at party level in UPND is a problem. Your silly MPs are happy to okay salary increments in Parliament.
Jay go and eff a dog for all I care. A life has been lost ****** we. Have respect
The sad thing is UNZA had so much prime land and should be self sustaining by now……but again this is nothing to do with UNZA but GRZ paying the students their meal allowances.
The situation is lungu paid himself and his upper circle a pay hike back dated from January…the same week he just spent $4 million on a useless trip to the UN to talk about Mandela while students are starving ???
That is lungu for you..the caring humble leader….
On the 18th of October they will ask zambians to pray over fuel price hike, yet the humble one and his clique have cushioned themselves from the impact of fuel price hike with salary hike.
Why should you use unza as practical field for lilayi police training.
Let them go to chibolya if they want practicals
As long as they continue to break innocent people’s property,the police will always move in to keep order.
ONE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FACT THAT THE MEAL ALLOWANCE ISSUE IS AND HAS BEEN GETTING OUT OF HAND. LOSS OF LIFE IN THIS MANNER IS ONE TOO MANY. YES, IT IS TAX PAYER’S MONEY BUT I WON’T PAY MY TAX FOR ONE SOUL TO BE LOST IN DEMANDING FOR IT IN RIOTIOUS MANNER.
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You don’t demand for what you think you are entitled to using unorthodox means. Kaingu tried to abolish it and replacing it the so called student’s loan. But my humble opinion is that do away with it for one or two years so we see if will have riots then forever. KK ruled for 27 years, FTJ 10 years, LPM nearly 7 years, RB nearly 3 years, MCS nearly 3 years and LPM nearly 4 years. Now we can’t be talking about student rioting over meal allowances for all these years…
…. Something is not right here. Don’t we learn? Is it political?
And there is no shortage of money for Presidential empowerment fund to street vendors…yaba this boma and its “Sata’s vision”? Kokayi!!!
It takes time to educate a person.So it is painful to lose a daughter after investing a lot in her.Parents,as poor as they are,try their best to invest the little they have in their children’s education.Most of these children come from very poor families.A loss,especially, to a child who is in final year of her education is so heart breaking.Parents expected returns to be yielded from their sweat.
It is high time government stopped brutality in higher institution of learning.Most of these cops they graduate from Lilayi with empty brains.The only thing they know is beating innocent citizens.They do not apply skills of good policing which they have acquired.I hope human rights organizations will take it up so that parents of the deceased are rewarded from this brutal regime.
Correction. There were hardly any riots over meal allowances during KK’s time. For most of KK’s time, meals were served freely in the dining halls. Its only towards the end of his Presidency that the meal allowances were introduced. Most protests in those days were over ideological differences – including the governments stance to support Savimbi instead of the MPLA in Angola. Students scored a victory over this one and every year thereafter, they observed the 9th of February (no lectures) Students also demonstrated against UNIP policies and the One-Party state phenomenon. They also reacted to anyone who dared whittle down their academic freedom.
Today meal allowances and other payments are never on time – forcing students to divert from their academic calling to demand the same. Then…
…you condemn them and even kill them for your own inadequacies.
Unfortunately Lungu doesn’t listen a thing. The guy is sply bad. The Devil sent Lungu to rule Zambia. God is not in this guy’s life. NEVER!
JUST FROM NOWHERE ATI MONEY WILL START FLOWING EARLY NEXT WEEK. THESE I.DIOTS WILL NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME. DO WE HAVE TO LOSE A LIFE TO HAVE GRIEVANCES HEARD. THESE I.DIOTS ARE DEVILS INDEED.
MWANYA!!!!
HOW I WISH A POLICEMAN WAS KILLED. YES IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN STUDENTS SELF DEFENCE. THATS WHERE WE ARE GOING NOW. MAYBE THATS WHEN SOME BIG F.OOL WILL START LISTENING.
MACHENDE!
In fact the girl who died was not even on GRZ sponsorship. Her parents have been paying for her up to the fourth year when death met her. She was studying in her room. The only problem is that we have criminals in uniforms who are party cadres masquerading as police officers.
Finally some people are so ignorant about Unza financial Problems. There is too much interference from GRZ. It is very difficult to run Unza as a business because of the GRZ interference. Just look at ZCAS which is also a govt, because there is no interference from GRZ there are no such problems. Govt wants to send students on Bursaries and yet they don’t pay. When Unza pursues students for non payment of fees, GRZ intervenes. So stop your ignorance of comparing Unza to other Universities like Harvard.