Maravi

ZANASU accuses Kalusa of bribing CBU students

ZANASU accuses Kalusa of bribing CBU students
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Sunday September 14, 2008 [04:00]

ZAMBIA National Students Union (ZANASU) president Rodgers Mugala has accused UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa of giving out K800,000 to Copperbelt University (CBU) students to campaign for the party. Reacting to Kalusa's allegations that Mugala was being used by the MMD to organise youths to campaign for Vice-President Rupiah Banda ahead of the October 30 presidential by-election, Mugala instead accused Kalusa of trying to 'buy' students.

Mugala, who is also outgoing Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president, charged that Kalusa last Wednesday gave the money to a named CBU student to organise his colleagues to campaign for UPND during the football match between Zambia and Togo in Chililabombwe.

"Kalusa alleges that we were promised K100 million to campaign for the MMD. We refute this claim because it lacks substance and borders on political insult.

In fact, we have got tangible information that Kalusa organised buses for students to be ferried to Chililabombwe to watch the Zambia-Togo game.

Additionally, he attempted to buy the students' loyalty by offering them K40,000 each,” Mugala said.

He said the allegations made by Kalusa were totally untrue, and wondered how UPND would form government with such ‘lies’.
“We have stated as a students’ union that we will remain neutral as we have always braced ourselves to work with any government of the day.

However we shall not allow any surrogate to brainwash us to vote for or against anyone as we shall use our universal suffrage to vote for the candidate of our choice not as a students' body but as individuals,” he said.

Mugala also warned Kalusa to stop holding dark corner meetings at CBU campus, saying this may destroy the good image of the university.

“We also extend a timely warning to all political parties that students will not be used as pawns in any electoral or politically-aligned campaign,” said Mugala.

But Kalusa asked Mugala to substantiate his claims.
He denied ever giving out money to students. Kalusa said he was above student politics and that he had been going to CBU for other business and not to hold dark corner campaign meetings.

“The guys are being used by government. If that is not true, let them come and challenge me,” said Kalusa.

Labels: CBU, CORRUPTION, ZANASU

posted by MrK @ 4:01 AM