Maravi

CBU students riot as UNZASU bars Dora from graduation

CBU students riot as UNZASU bars Dora from graduation
Written by Staff Reporters
Thursday, August 13, 2009 2:04:11 PM

COPPERBELT University (CBU) students last night ran riot just after the 19:00 hours Zambia National Broadcasting main news which quoted home affairs minister Lameck Mangani accusing the students of being used by politicians.

And University of Zambia Students Union has urged education minister Dora Siliya to stay away from today’s graduation ceremony at the institution if she had any morality left in her.

The students at both institutions had staged peaceful demonstrations by boycotting class for a day to protest against what they termed the immoral appointment of Dora Siliya as education minister, the shooting of students by police during recent demonstrations including the harassment of journalists.

The CBU students were riled after ZNBC carried a news clip quoting Mangani who accused the students of having staged the demonstrations because they were being used by some unnamed political parties.

They rushed to the main road just outside their campus, Jumbo Drive and started stoning vehicles resulting into the burning of a private vehicle before police were called in to quell the disturbances.

CBU students union leader Kasonde Mwenda confirmed the riots and stated calm had returned to the campus. He, however, said the students’ body was yet to confirm whether it was the students that burnt the vehicle.

The students have vowed to carry on with the class boycott for two more days.

And UNZASU has continued with its call for Siliya to step down as Minister of Education and have since barred her from officiating at today’s graduation ceremony.

A check at the ceremony this morning revealed that Siliya who was expected there did not attend the proceedings.

UNZASU publicity secretary Bertha Kalongelwa maintained that the student’s body would maintain their demand to exclude Siliya from the institution’s affairs.

“What we are saying is that we don’t want her to come here. In the interest of integrity and her safety it will be better if she stays away,” said Kalongelwa said.

Labels: CBU, DORA SILIYA, UNZASU

posted by MrK @ 1:05 PM