Maravi

HH challenges Rupiah to provide education, jobs

HH challenges Rupiah to provide education, jobs
Written by Zumani Katasefa and Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Saturday, April 04, 2009 4:15:32 PM

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has urged President Rupiah Banda's government to provide decent education and jobs to Zambians.

And the government has invited Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president Kasonde Mwenda who is walking to State House over the plight of his fellow students to attend the national indaba in Lusaka.

In a press statement released yesterday, Hichilema also demanded that the government provides bursaries to over 500 students out of the over 1,400 first year students admitted to the university.

"Further we understand that several students from remote parts of Zambia have not been able to have their applications for admission into Copperbelt University processed. This amounts to discrimination of the highest order. The Ministry of Education should allow such students an opportunity for further education by processing their applications," he stated.

Hichilema said without free education for those that could not afford to pay, Zambia would not meet the target of universal education by 2015 in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which the country had committed itself to.

Nkana Patriotic Front member of parliament Mwenya Musenge condemned the government for its failure to provide bursaries to over 500 CBU deserving students.

Musenge said failure to provide bursaries to the students clearly demonstrated that the the government did not attach great importance to education in the country.

Musenge said it was sad that the government was not pro-active to sensitive issues going on in the country such as education.

He said with massive job loses that had rocked the country, very few parents had the capacity to pay for their childrens' education and it was imperative for the government to help children from vulnerable families attain higher education.

"I support Mwenda's [Copperbelt University Student Union president] protest; it is a very peaceful one. And I urge the government not to keep silent over this matter, the government should not wait for Mwenda to reach Lusaka to respond to his demands," Musenge said.

UPND provincial chairman Elisha Mutambo supported Mwenda's protest and urged government to respond urgently.

He said Mwenda's protest was not based on selfish motives and appealed to all patriotic Zambians to support the student.

"Bursaries are meant for vulnerable people, but it is surprising that only children from well-to-do families and connected to the government are the only ones benefiting from the bursaries. This is sad, that is why we have been appealing to Zambians to give us a chance to rule this country. Because our president Hakainde Hichilema understands the importance of education better," Matambo said.

And on Thursday, Mwenda said he had reached Kapiri Mposhi when he received a phone call from CBU Dean of Students Emmanuel Chunda informing him of the invitation to the indaba.

"The Dean of Students just called me informing me that a letter has come to school from the Office of The President that I had been invited to the indaba and that I need to register tomorrow," he said. "The dean also told me that the permanent secretary communicated that she was waiting for a letter from me over the bursaries."

He said he decided to call off the walk to State House at Kapiri Mposhi because the government had shown willingness to talk.

However, Mwenda said if the talks did not yield the desired results of making the government rescind its decision over reducing the number of students on bursary, COBUSU would determine the next course of action.

"We have a cause and until that is achieved we will determine the next course of action," Mwenda said. "My going to the indaba is beyond the indaba. We want to achieve something."

He also complained of being highly fatigued and that his legs were swollen from the two days walk up to Kapiri Mposhi.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mwenda also revealed that some motorists had been sympathetic and were stopping to offer him lifts but he had continued to walk.

Mwenda spent Wednesday night in a grass thatched store between Kafulafuta and Nyenyezi.

Mwenda said he would not relent over the cause that he had embarked on.

Over 500 first year students have not been awarded government sponsorship leading to the student leader's protest walk to State House which started with a hunger strike on Monday.

Labels: EDUCATION, GOVERNANCE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, JOBS, KASONDE MWENDA, MDGs

posted by MrK @ 3:16 PM