Maravi

Dora faces CBU students demo

Dora faces CBU students demo
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:17:40 PM

COPPERBELT University Students Union (COBUSU) secretary general Kenneth Sampa has threatened that the students’ body will stage a peaceful demonstration against the appointment of Dora Siliya as education minister. Sampa said COBUSU decided to side with University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU)'s rejection of the former communications minister and vowed that students would not rest until she was replaced with someone else.

"COBUSU is disappointed with the appointment of Dora Siliya as education minister," Sampa said. "We are happy with the removal of [Professor Geoffrey] Lungwangwa but his replacement is worse. Most of the problems that this country faces emanate from the education sector. If we had a higher standard of education, the problems that we face would have been solved. So we need someone who can perform beyond what Lungwangwa did. We have waged a war against the appointment of Dora and CBU students will not rest until Dora is replaced with someone else."

He wondered how Siliya would perform in the Ministry of Education if she failed in the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

"We are seriously appealing to President Rupiah Banda to look into the matter," Sampa said.

Students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) on Monday said they would not allow the education sector to be used as a dumping ground. The students said they would ensure that Siliya was removed from the education ministry.

Last week, President Banda appointed Siliya a day after her being cleared by High Court judge Phillip Musonda of breaching the Constitution as found by the judge Dennis Chirwa-chaired tribunal.

And COBUSU finance and investments secretary Chisala Mulenga appealed to the Bursaries Committee to be more efficient in attending to students' affairs in the first semester.

Mulenga said up to now some students had even gone on a two weeks break without being paid their meal allowances owing to omissions at the Bursaries Committee.

He said the omissions were a result of the demonstrations that took place at CBU after the institution began its academic calendar this year.

Mulenga said the inefficiencies of the Bursaries Committee were making President Banda and COBUSU unpopular among students.

He said the Bursaries Committee needed to process meal, project and book allowances in time for students who resume classes next week.

Mulenga also urged government to resolve the standoff leading to strikes in the health and education sectors.

He said CBU students had relatives and siblings who were affected by the strikes in the health and education sectors and could not afford to just watch the situation.

"We go to the same clinics where things are not happening," said Mulenga. "Students have brothers and sisters not going to school because the teachers are on strike. Let government sort out the issue of strikes: we are tired of hearing our neighbours crying." The health workers countrywide have been on strike for over a month, demanding better conditions of service. The government and the public service unions signed a 15 per cent salary increment but the health workers had rejected it. The teachers were also on strike but called off their strike after the signing of the agreement. However, pupils in some schools do not learn as some teachers are not working although they report for work.

Labels: CBU, DEMONSTRATION, DORA SILIYA, KENNETH SAMPA

posted by MrK @ 3:17 PM