I write to you seeking your intervention over the yearly problem that we the Zambian students are facing in Russia concerning the failure by government via the bursaries committee to send us upkeep, visa and medical allowances on time. We have gone for five months without been given the top up allowances.
The academic year begins in September, and start of every academic year needs a certain amount of money.
1.Firstly, on the 1st September we needed about $400 for hostel fees ,about $200 for medical insurance(which if you don’t have you will not be register as a student and will not write exams), about $50 for renewal of the student Visa and about $100 for full medical checkups. In short, a student needs a minimum of about $800 at the start of every academic year which is 01-09. Most universities do not allow students to start school without the above mentioned requirements.In spite of the government through the bursaries committee being aware of these facts, we have gone for five months without being paid top up allowances.
It is so disturbing to note that in light of this, there has been no concrete explanation given as to why we have not be given the top up allowances up to now. Our student union representatives have kept on informing us that the embassy does not know when the bursaries committee will send us the money. Rumour has it that the bursaries committee has a negative bank balance; hence, they are unable to fund us. It is so worrying to note that a country can risk having expensive uncalled for by-elections after every five-six months while its children are suffering abroad under brutal temperatures.
[pullquote]We are even wondering why the government keeps on sending students here when they cannot afford to take care of the few who are here already[/pullquote]
There is a far cry amongst the Zambian community here. Not only are we a joke, we are also recurrent beggars, our colleagues from other countries are even avoiding us now, simply because they are tired of our endless demands, We are in so much debt(we have already reached our debt ceiling).
We have been warned of being evicted from the hostels by next week if we do not pay for the hostels. The hostel managers have given us eviction notifications and we are now worried how will be able to continue studying being aware of the fact that we might not have a place to stay by next week.
To add salt to the wound, we have unsettled issues with visas, as we are required to have medical insurance policies before they can give us our visas. In Russia, you need to have a registration card. The registration card is available only if you have a visa. However, for us it means that we are unable to get the registration card, as we do not have the visa. Without having a registration card, you cannot do any official transactions; this means that I cannot even receive money from any bank or western union if my parents were to send me money.
We are even wondering why the government keeps on sending students here when they cannot afford to take care of the few who are here already. Each year, Zambia sends more students here than any other country in Africa. Just for the 2013-2014 academic years, Zambia sent around 105 students.
2.Secondly, we desperately need an increment. The last time we got an increment was in 2008 right before the world financial crisis. Ever since, prices of goods has risen as much as 90%. While the Zambian government has increased its salaries 3 times just within two years. The $250 per month is not enough at all. Russia is a very expensive place to live in. Moscow is now the second most expensive city to live in in the world. Our (well taken care-of) fellow students from Botswana gets $750, Nigeria gets $600, Angola gets $500 and Guinea gets $500 per month, just to mention the few. And their money comes on time, maybe simply because their government understands better what it takes to be a foreign student in an alien land like Russia. My final appeal to the PF government is to be efficient enough in the way they hundle NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
Please pay us our allowances on time and take some time to revise on what you offer to us. I believe no soul has to be lost to be convinced that the house is not in order but at the moment, what we are going through, is pretty worrisome as we have massively cut our eating schedules due to reasons best known to our own GOVERNMENT!
3.Lastly A word of advice to anyone who wishes to come and study here under the Russian/Zambian scholarship, do more consultations and make sure your parents can stand for you in days like these.
Studying in Russia as a foreigner is very difficult; unlike the locals, we are not allowed to work hence we cannot earn any extra money. However, the failure by government to send us money on time has led to some students embarrassing themselves by dancing at the universities, in streets or at the sea so that the well-wishers can give them some money. This is so embarrassing for a country like Zambia to see its future leaders, medical practitioners and engineers dancing for a living in a foreign land instead of concentrating on their studies(below is attached a photo of the students dancing to what is called tumba-yumba).
We plead to any concerned authority in Zambia who will read this to voice out for us. We plead to the government through the ministry of education to hear our plea and consider us, as studying in Russia, Algeria, china, Turkey and Cuba is not easy and even worse without any form of financial support.
Your assistance will be highly appreciated
Concerned and soon to be evicted from the hostel Zambian student in Russia.
Sad story. I hope you only dance during the day and not at night or else you will be thrown into river
I have never witnessed any foreigner studying at any Public University in our country raising funds through such embarrassing acts. Unfortunately its our own Zambian relatives and friends studying away!!!!
I believe Mirriam Nayame Chirwa, the Secretary of the bursaries committee is well informed about this. If govt cannot afford to carter for this scholarship scheme, then why is it so hard to cancel it? Moreover the scheme has been there for years in and out but all of the sudden complaints from the students starts to troop in.
Somebody somewhere is not professionally doing there job. Its hard and costly out there especially students.
@HD Loudspeaker..The BC Secretary is not Mirriam but Ireen..Thank you for the wise words though!
@Jox thanks for the correction, had the name in mind, I slipped off! Otherwise the situation is disheartening. So much need to be done.
Look, the govt spends so much money on sending somebody in diplomatic missions. They provide with them very huge funds and allowances for only very short visits and spend nights in highly rated 5 star Hotels. If such monies were saved and channelled onto the future leaders-to-be neglected Zambian Nationals that would at least make an observable difference.
This has been an on-going problem that we should have been history by now. I remember my friends relatives, who went on government bursary to foreign based institutions in the 1980s complaining about the same. Only ZCCM sponsored students used to receive allowances on time. In fact they received salaries because they were so well paid compared to even say U.K. nationals on local bursaries.
Can the Zambian government explain why we hear stories of students on scholarships to other countries being neglected?If you can’t fund them stop sending them abroad and rather send them to UNZA or to those new ‘universities’ doted around named parts of the country. And please halt ridiculous by elections till you address important issues like education and health.Why should government spend millions to elect an illiterate bootlicking lawmaker.
Why do these students avoid local local Universities? I think the govt is doing well to conctrate on local education problems. Let these young men and women come back and dance locally.
Can the govt please do away with these bursaries pantu even in developed countries like usa they no longer give bursaries but student loans so that they should PAY BACK,nothing personal
It makes sense to give student loans in countries where the students are guaranteed jobs after completion of education. USA is a large economy. Scandinavia is a group of welfare states.
Please do something as quickly as possible. It is no good for students to channel their complaints through the media however it seems this is too much. PF have put education as a priority and I suppose this will be rectified soon otherwise PF is arming the opposition and slowly will lose its popularity.
Sad; but am not surprised. In Zambia we are used to fire fighting; we wait for a problem to escalate to critical level before we can intervene. Each time we point this out, we are told bakolwe imwe mu diaspora what can you tell us. I am sure someone at the bursaries committee knows about this but due to inefficiencies they have not bothered to deal with it. Worse, when a problem is out of sight, it means fikaisova!! Such is what makes our great country operate in shambolic mode. What a great country given to people that do not deserve it!!
It is sad to learn that,what do you do in Russia that you can’t do in Zambia?
dont’t ask silly questions u faggot!!
Very sad.I feel you.I was equally appalled when i visited some Zambian friends studying there.This problem of late payments has always been there even before PF came into power.Please ba Government look after the plight of these future leaders.
Finyau. The guys look like artists enjoying themselves, tip or not.
Let them just come back and enroll at the newly constructed Paul Mushindo University
Ukwa doesn’t like educated people as a result there are Nyau dancers all over Russia.
This is a serious matter. PF, please do something or our girls will become prostitutes.
Dochikubeba, some girls (prostitution) are already selling via social network!
This is very sad, please lets help our brothers by send the money quickly. Mind you, winter is coming and it will be very difficult to dance nyau with the gear seen above, no matter how talented.
You cracked my ribs. Hahaha!
the bursary system need reforms
the BC matha fakaz are wicked. They only give gud scholarships to their families and friends. ka ireen chirwa she is so rude and am sure she is a cadre .i think students everywhere its high time we stood up for our rights.
Of all the places you go and study in Russia,bombocloot!You should have stayed and studied at Nkuruma college
makaveli.i dont blame you sick ignorant scumbag.tawakwata isukulu
Matani caught on camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzC0xLPIxE0
in this era,zambia need an education system oriented towards revolving Zambian problems,silly cows!How do you go and study in Russia??????&%%!%%%?
Very true…..why the hell do they want to go and Study in Russia? These are the same chaps who got schorlaships through bribes and corruption. Its pay back time.
Makaveli and Mushota- mulifikoposasa ba fi colour.Russia, China, Algeria and Cuba are the only nationa try to help in educatting zambia, they pay school fee for more than 1000 zambias every year so you want Zambian , who are so much in need of eduction, to turn down a free offer.You both sound like pipo who could not make it on the list of those who were selected.I dont even think you have tetiary education.Did you even pass G 12 exams?probably you still living at you aprents homes! You are losser and you always will be.
Sad story indeed, very sad!
what do you mean sad story? let them come back home and study locally. Otherwise they will continue dancing who day and whole night. Are there no hotels where they can do dish wash and clean toilets like most of you in the diaspora do?
Government need to introduce students loan Bursary shud be stopped. For more people to benefit.
The bursaries system was abolished already. Students studying at UNZA, CBU are now under the students loan system.
It’s really sad, let the government do something about it. At least male students have a decent way of making money. For those studying music it’s okay. Not sure what activity our female students are into. Hope it is not through the entertainment units.
No….no….no….why GOVT? The Govt has the mandate to look into UNZA, CBU, etc Students who are promoting the local education system. Let these pigs continue dancing and and possibly washing dishes and cleaning toilets and small babies from rich families.
THAT’S WHY ZED GIRLS ARE DATING OTHER AFRICANS LIKE NIGERIANS,GHANAIANS NAMIBIANS ETC BECAUSE OF SITUATIONS LIKE THESE…
ITS A PITY INDEED.AND ZEDIANS ARE USUALLY THE MOST RESPECTED, VERSATILE AND INTELLIGENT BUNCH WHEREVER THEY ARE.
Why do they run away from the Universities? This is a big lesson to them. We have more pressing problems internally than worrying about these chaps who don’t want to be educated locally.
@mushota,you seem to be a bitter person, why?you’ve been failing to secure yourself scholarships or what?why are you lambasting innocent pipo like that?why call them pigs?
University cut-off points and school fees in Zed are tough bane. That is the reason these guys go east!
Seriously speaking this Mushota guy sounds like he is never been to school or a frustrated person left for consideration for the same scholarship chances.
Ba Mushota!! Respect school, it does not matter where you get education from, but the Russian, Algerian, Cuban, Chinese etc… scholarships is an already existing scheme that has been there for many years. It is a scholarship open to any deserving Zambian that did well at Grade Twelve or at undergraduate (to study for Masters) level.
Look some notable people like Clive Chirwa, and one of the health ministers as well as others have gone through the benefit of the program. On the contrary, your sentiments are too antagonising on the matter at hand.
@ Mushota They don’t run away u *****, if one doesn’t get a place at a local university of which there are very few offering a wide range of professions, and they are fortunate enough to land scholarships elsewhere that are on offer ,why not? @Tabalayi Its not about the cut offs,there are cut offs there too and besides learning in a different land and language is not that easy
all they want is to come back shinning that we went to school abroad……..
i think chinakubaba for not making the list of those studying abroad!We will keep dance, studying and nailling white chicks!! Moshota you will naver make it in life coz you a jealous and unreasonable! Nothing personal
mushot look at you!!! ignorant chap. hate much as u can wen gon come home and get yo jobs.even tell yo ugly b@tch to clean our shoes.sucker
Also Come to the Czech Republic and dance in “STODOLNI”, I am sure the Gypsis will accomodate you!
ba Chilufyana….naimwe mulechulafye uko ku czech.ikalenifye
Also Come to the Czech Republic and dance in “STODOLNI”, I am sure the Gypsies will accomodate you!
We have heard how students rush to night clubs after receiving their allowances, even missing classes for weeks! But on a more fatherly note, I shall submit this complaint to the relevant parliamentary committee. Wipe your tears children. It shall be resolved at the earliest time.
And as a matter of precaution, we may have to consider sending you more drums and a Choreographer. I don’t like those dance moves of yours.
Very funny man! Send us european drum sets as it it called. the snik drums will fail us))
Noted…We shall send you percussion.
Our government has failed us period. As I mentioned before politicians and senior government officials care for nobody but themselves. I am sure their children under bursaries in foreign countries are not starving because they are receiving thousands of dollars of taxpayers money in their accounts. We continue to wonder why we still lag behind when other countries Like China,Brazil,India ,Singapore, Malaysia etc etc are busy pouring millions into their education system. I wonder who will redeem us from the shackles of greed and poverty!
I totallyn agree with @accuGrade.
We will organise more drums and send them to Russia. And these good for nothing students should improve in their dance moves. How much can the accumulate with such boring dance moves?
@mushota and accuGrade u guys sound so pathetic if u have nothing to write just shut the hell up and take your stupidity somewhere else……this issue is way too serious so if u have nothing to write ??? ?????!!!!!!
Russia is no easy country even with money. I live next door to Russia and have visited there a couple of times. I really feel for these brothers and sisters. It is a very racist country (if you think all white countries are racist you have no idea) and I can imagine how much ridicule these people are getting. Brothers and sisters dancing for student fees strengthens the “monkey-banana-bongo-bongo” stereotype. All you guys making negative comments have your own frustrations which have nothing to do with these students. Please be empathetic, or at least make sense.
with all this information at hand, why did they abandon their own Universities in their own countries to become dancers in a racist country? All in the name of saying I studied abroad? No ways!!!
Let them continue dancing (in fact they need to improve their dance moves), they called for it. Govt’s priority number one is to look after students locally who are promoting the growth of our own education system
I came to russia to acquire the skill that i need inorder to invent a machine that will reduce human selfishness,envy and hate…this machine will also enhance appreciation,kindness and love in humans which we solely need for the development and complete eradication of poverty in zambia…note!! it is not the lack of skilled workers that brings about such situations but occupation of high offices by selfish people….one zambia one love………
My friend, come back home!!! Don’t be shy. Stop dancing their!! Come get your education back home. We know you are a prodical son. We will welcome you with both hands.
For how long are you going to continue dancing for money for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
There is no place like home. Swallow your pride and come back home. Let your dances for this weekend be for your Air ticket fees so that you can be on the next plane back home.
Dancing is enjoyable and those guys are enjoying themselves!! What recreation can those guys have in those places where people are not friendly? This should not be misplaced for dancing for money! and anyway even dancing for is their creativity…nothing embarrassing, those paying for it have seen good and should refuse to be paid for dancing???? The bursaries committee says any other extra expenses should be met by parents!
True…and it one way of keeping fit in a foreign land
I believe PF is a listening government. Please come to the aid of the students.
In all the photos, I cannot see any students, but a Zambian Cultural Ensemble performing at the beach. Where can students get time to make the dance gear and take to the streets to dance? Please do not mislead the nation!
our friends bazunga when they hear such things they act so instead of us sitting here and talk. why cant we do something for our friend as we wait for the government to act. Am proposing through Zambian times that you get in touch with the students union in Russia and come up with a website were people can make donations that can sustain them until the government does something. If we say let them come back, how? they cant afford a meal how will they pay for a ticket.They worked hard and earned their scholarships so let us support them, ONE ZAMBIA, ONE NATION. Tomorrow it will be you or your child, you will be amazed at how far your 5 kwacha can go. Let us do something for our friends and let us do it now.
Pule, Zambia has enough money to pay these students. What Zambia does not have are priorites. You have to make a decision to pay your students studying or conduct an illegal bye-election. We are tired of donations all the time. Let HH and others commit to us that bye-elections will not be there under their leadership and that students with govt scholarships will be paid adquately and on TIME, while maitaining roads to Shamgombo.
Some of the doctors who treat you at UTH graduated from Russia. In reply to someone who asked “Why go and study in Russia” These students deserve to be paid their allowances and ON TIME. Just stop one bye-election and send the money to the students. HH and other opposition leaders in the country need to pledge stopping bye-elections when they come to power unless an MP has died. It used to happen during our time in the 80s but it is worse now. Bring the engineers, doctors, pharmacists back with degrees so they can contribute to Zambia’s development. Hang in their pals. We appreciate you writing this. Zambia has enough copper money to take care of you.
ba mushota…u r a total looser,who doesnt understand anything,bet u wil remain lyk dat 4 the rest of ur miserable life!!!!!!!
mushota i’d really love to see how your biological sperm donnar looks like. coz its seems you forced your way out of that CONDOM. lucky you fuggot.
bafiiika!!! muletosebanya how can you dance on the street just to raise money? why don’t you found a good and respective way of raising money than striping on public.if its the money thats little reduce on your expenses (managementba kembo iwe the problem with zambian you like “good nigga living” nakamu russian pambali …just work hard and living the life you want
Those have been the same problems since the 80s, so this just a lesson for the ones who rush to leave the country on someones pocket especially GRZ. You have sponsored yourself just like I did coming from a lower middle class family. Very proud of myself.
Touching story,1 the government needs to address with urgency. I personally advocate for student loans and not bursaries. It is also depressing to see some narrow minded Zambians making pointless comments like ‘what are they doing in Russia? Y don’t they just come back?’,Only someone without proper education and understanding of what a country needs to prosper would even find it thoughtful to ask such questions. Please also understand that he GVT isn’t to be blamed,such cases date far back and it is only when such concerns are brought to light in this manner that the gvt get to know about them.
For our fellow Zambians in Russia,please hang in there,you have our prayers and hopefully your matter will get the deserved attention.
Touching story,1 the government needs to address with urgency. I personally advocate for student loans and not bursaries. It is also depressing to see some narrow minded Zambians making pointless comments like ‘what are they doing in Russia? Y don’t they just come back?’,Only someone without proper education and understanding of what a country needs to prosper would even find it thoughtful to ask such questions. Please also understand that he GVT isn’t to be blamed,such cases date far back and it is only when such concerns are brought to light in this manner that the gvt get to know about them.
For our fellow Zambians in Russia,please hang in there,you have our prayers and hopefully your matter will get the deserved attention. All he best
Imwe guys uyu Mushota just plays with your minds he /she knows that u are bitter at heart .just forget about him/her.
Remember today u are suffering tomorrow it will be another story. look at UNZA,CBU,Krumar just to mention a few most of the Lectures studied in Russian.
We have pipo like Nkandu Luo, Clive Chirwa My self all studiedin Russian are getting a lot of cash but we all suffered of the cold ,hunger and the rest but we are now respected in the society.
Just remember that there is no excuse to perform bad and finally failing cos the government didn’t help. it is your life strive to complete your studies and you will be laughing back for what you went thru
Cheers,
Russia,the problem is that you can’t have any part time job as a foreign student.
I once stayed in Tambov,and hey it was hell.
I fully support Mushota on this and many other issues. Let the chaps dance and raise money. Tax payers money is stretched and we need it in Zambia. i’d rather we buy Toyota Landcruiser GX’s for our elite ministers than to give those Zambian/Russian boys and girls BC. Ladies and Gentleman a Toyota Landcruiser GX is a nice car….
I’m Russian trained Zambian. Studying is Russia is not easy. It is cold, the language is Russian and you are a student (foreign student). These three make studying in Russia very difficult. I agree that the GRZ delays in paying the students. GRZ does not pay the allowances on promised time. The GRZ also pays the student in arrears of four/month months. In 2008/9 the allowance was $300/month. I’m told today it’s around $500/M. My young brother is studying in Russia too.
Apart from GRZ allowances, Zambian student who did not get a grade lower than 60% in previous semester are given an extra $160 by the Russian government every month called stipend. Students with grades lower than 50% do not get this $160. This stipend is normally enough to buy food stuff and groceries for each student to last a month. It’s not enough if you include beer, vodka, etc. To the student trying to publish this image about studying in Russia, i am really saddened. This tendency of complain is always in the media. Students have been advising people in Zambia (probably even the author of above article) that do not go to Russia. But all the same people go to Russian (including this student complaining above).
As students I advise you to be objective and not subjective in your public relations stunt. As readers of your work, we are very unlikely to help you unlike getting entertained with this. To get obsessed with cheap publicity which will make it hard for us in Zambia to hire such ill trained specialists because, their government keeps them without proper care for seven years. They spend most of the time dancing instead of studying! Why should Zambia employ you? You have dug your own grade and you have to lay in it soon! Next time government gives you the $1500 allowances pay the people you own and buy a ticket(Qatar airways is $678 one-way) to Zambia and enroll at one of new universities in Muchinga province. Maybe this way Zambia well have better trained specialist.