Government, CBU agree on 15% increase in tuition fees for 1st-year students
By Allan Mulenga
Fri 06 Apr. 2012, 13:53 CAT
THE government and Copperbelt University management have agreed on a 15 per cent increase in tuition fees for first-year students from the initial 25 per cent approved in 2008.
And the government is in the process of introducing the Student Loan Authority to cover the cost of students' education. Education minister Dr John Phiri yesterday said his ministry and CBU management agreed that the 25 per cent increase in first-year tuition fees be spread over two years - 15 per cent this year and 10 per cent next year.
"The ministry has noted that the fees for first year´s will disadvantage the already disadvantaged to enter Copperbelt University.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education will source financing to bridge the budgetary gap which will be created at the Copperbelt University as a result of the reduction in the rate of increase of tuition fees," he said.
"…There have been concerns raised over this…These concerns have come from Copperbelt University Students and the Copperbelt community in general. The fees have reached to some K14,000,000 and K18,000,000 for Social Science and Natural Science programmes, respectively. This is far above what the majority of our people can afford."
The 15 per cent increase in fees this year means Social Science students will now pay K12.8 million instead of K14 million while Natural Science students will pay K16.9 million from the initial K18.4 million.
In 2013, another 10 per cent increment will be effected on first-year students.
There was public outcry over the proposed 25 per cent increase in tuition fees, with students warning that they would boycott classes if management went ahead to effect the increment.
But CBU management said the 25 per cent increment was approved in 2008 after consultation with the government as a solution to many financial problems the institution was facing.
And Dr Phiri said the ministry was working on a draft bill for the establishment of the Student Loan Authority which would be presented to Parliament for enactment into law.
"The ministry also recognises that the only solution to the funding of public universities is through a non-discriminatory organ which will manage a loans scheme for students. The Student Loan Authority will enable students who are admitted to higher education institutions to access loans to cover the cost of their education," said Dr Phiri.
"This will be part of the overall efforts that the ministry will be undertaking to ensure that our higher education system is positioned to respond to the development needs of our country, and to ensure that science, technology and innovation provide a basis for finding solutions to those issues which hinder our efforts towards social and economic development."
Labels: CBU, JOHN PHIRI
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Zambian education on the decline - CBU Chancellor
By Allan Mulenga in Kitwe
Sun 24 July 2011, 13:59 CAT
PROFESSOR Muyunda Mwanalushi says the quality of education is significantly compromised for it to effectively produce citizens capable of optimally advancing Zambia’s sustainable development agenda.
Officiating at the 20th Copperbelt University graduation ceremony on Friday, Prof. Mwanalushi, who is Copperbelt University Chancellor, said local universities had failed to pursue academic research agenda to satisfy scientific curiosity.
“The ivory tower image of the universities will only be shed when their research is directed sufficiently to the problems facing their society, such as the search for solutions to problems in health, education, water, climate change, energy and food security,” he said.
Prof. Mwanalushi observed that for decades, the nation had witnessed a steady decline in the quality of education at all levels.
“The development of our education system requires regular in-depth review to determine its quality and relevance to society at large. While I concede that the objectives of education in our nation are diverse, on the measure of academic competence, the standard of learning is certainly not meritorious. When you look at it holistically across all levels of the education system,’’ he said.
Prof. Mwanalushi urged local universities to engage with the local school communities to address issues affecting quality of education.
“In a democracy, one of the important issues is the equitable access to education for all. This requires considerable investment in the provision of teaching and learning materials, particularly textbooks; introduction innovative pedagogy; in-service professional development of teachers in content and teaching and learning methods; re-conceptualising the curriculum to incorporate contemporary content,” said Prof. Mwanalushi.
Labels: CBU, EDUCATION, MUYUNDA MWANALUSHI
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Future of Zambia’s democracy lies in voting - Storella
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Wed 01 Dec. 2010, 04:01 CAT
THE US envoy to Zambia says the people who have registered as voters hold the key to the country’s democracy. Ambassador Mark Storella urged the young people to register as voters in numbers to enable them to participate in next year’s elections.
Ambassador Storella made the remarks when he toured the Copperbelt University (CBU) on Monday. He challenged the students to take part in public life.
“I have learnt that 900,000 have registered as voters countrywide and 188,000 have registered from the Copperbelt so far, which is the highest according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia. What you young people need is to prepare yourselves to take up the leadership mantle in the country,” Ambassador Storella said.
The voters registration exercise officially closed yesterday but the elections body says it might re-open the exercise in March next year if funds are available.
Ambassador Storella said US President Barrack Obama believed that African youths had the potential to transform their continent through education.
He urged the students to take advantage of education to explore ways of enhancing Zambia’s economic transformation.
However, Ambassador Storella said infrastructure remained a challenge to scholars in Zambia.
He said Zambia had lagged behind in terms of development because of the landlocked syndrome.
Ambassador Storella said lack of infrastructure in institutions of learning like CBU where six students occupied a single room was not healthy.
However, he hailed CBU management for continuing to partner with cooperating partners to improve standards at the institution.
He said there were many opportunities for partnerships in education in the United States.
“What we have learnt is that we cannot do what Zambians want to do for themselves, but we can help,” Ambassador Storella said.
And CBU vice-chancellor Professor Mutale Musonda requested the US government to help CBU partner with US institutions to develop capacity in mining and instrumentation engineering courses.
Prof Musonda said the university needed more infrastructure development projects and technical support in order to respond to industry requirements for graduating students.
Prof Musonda disclosed that KLE University of India and CBU had signed a memorandum of understanding to introduce a medical school for CBU as a joint venture.
He said the new medical faculty would run two programmes: general medicine and dentistry to be conducted at Ndola Central Hospital starting in April 2011.
Prof Musonda said the Indian university had also written a proposal to the government requesting to run Ndola hospital as a teaching hospital on concessional basis.
He said CBU had repositioned its research structure to suit developing trends in the education sector and industrial demands.
“We only have a school offering diploma in dentistry in Lusaka now we think this memorandum of understanding with KLE offers an opportunity for the country to train dentists up to degree level,” he said.
Prof Musonda said there was very little being done by the private sector to equip libraries or computer laboratories with the necessary materials to enhance students’ learning needs.
Labels: CBU, MARK STORELLA, MUTALE MUSONDA, VOTER REGISTRATION
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Shortage of accommodation at CUB is becoming unbearable – COBUSU
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sat 26 June 2010, 03:00 CAT [538 Reads, 0 Comment(s)]
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COPPERBELT University Students’ Union (COBUSU) president Mark Muchindu has disclosed that the school has 2,000 bed spaces against the population of 7,000 students currently enrolled at the campus.
In an interview at Sheboune Farms on Thursday after the launch of the British American Tobacco scholarship Scheme for seven students, Muchindu said the critical shortage of accommodation at the institution was becoming unbearable for the students.
He said corporate entities should help the institution in the provision of accommodation of students who had been greatly affected academically.
Muchindu said despite the construction of a new hostel block by the government, it had failed to cushion the critical shortage of accommodation as it only provided 96 bed spaces.
He said other students who had an opportunity to be offered bed space were forced to help their colleagues without accommodation, a situation that led to unhealthy living conditions.
“The accommodation situation at CBU has now turned into a crisis. We are forced to be six in a room that was designed to accommodate two students only. Our living condition there is unhealthy; it’s just that we can’t let go of education due to accommodation crisis. We are appealing to government and other cooperating partners to come to the aid of the schools and really help us,” Muchindu said.
He said the desire of the union was to see the university develop in terms of infrastructure so that the students could enjoy conducive accommodation and learning environment.
Muchindu commended the British American Tobacco (BAT) for offering scholarship schemes for seven students.
He said the direction that BAT had taken to sponsor the underprivileged students and others for academic excellence was a good gesture for young people who were striving to secure their future.
“Looking at the poverty levels in our country a lot of students are struggling to pay their school fees. The corporate social investment of BAT is a blessing and will never go in vein as it would go a long way in supporting the underprivileged students academically,” Muchindu said.
And during the launch of scholarship scheme, BAT managing director Johan Grobbelaar said the undergraduate scholarship scheme was initiated in 2009 to benefit deserving candidates from underprivileged backgrounds by giving them access to tertiary education.
Grobbelaar said the hope of the company was to extend the programme to various state tertiary institutions to enable more underprivileged students to get the scholarship.
He said BAT Zambia enjoyed the relationship it had established with the Copperbelt University.
“One of our business principles is mutual benefit. We are a commercial enterprise with a primary role of building long-term shareholder value by meeting consumers’ preference for high quality tobacco products. In doing so we believe that we need to adopt a responsible, accountable approach towards win-win outcomes that maintain stakeholder interests,” Globbelaar said.
Dean of School of Business Dr Shadreck Chama urged the private sector to emulate the BAT scheme.
He said many young people were on the streets due to lack of sponsorship to study at universities.
Chama also challenged the beneficiaries of the scholarships to work hard and achieve academic excellence so that BAT could be motivated to sponsor other students.
Labels: CBU, HOUSING
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K600bn UNZA, CBU debt is choking govt, says Siliya
By Justin Katilungu in Kabwe
Sat 24 Apr. 2010, 03:40 CAT
THE K600 billion debt that the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University owe is choking the government, education minister Dora Siliya has observed.
Addressing students and management of Mulungushi University on Wednesday, Siliya said the
government needed to find money to liquidate the debt owed by the two public universities.
“We need to seek money to offset this K600 billion debt or else my ministry will continue to be choked,” Siliya said.
She said the government was pushing for public private partnerships to enable the private sector invest in the education sector because it had become costly for the government to run the two public universities.
Siliya noted that the government treasured public private sector partnerships, as they were a cornerstone to fostering national development.
“We have created an enabling environment where the private sector is flourishing and our economy is growing. When the private sector continues to grow steadily, it means that there will be more financial support to government projects too,” Siliya said.
And Central Province permanent secretary Denny Lumbama told Siliya when she called on provincial minister Ackimson Banda that the government was doing extremely well in the education sector in Kabwe and other towns in the province.
Lumbama said the development of infrastructure in the education sector in Kabwe was going on very well.
“We have several high schools being erected in the province through the Ministry of Education but as provincial administration, we are also supplementing to this noble cause. We are happy with the expansion of Mulungushi University and Nkrumah College University,” said Lumbama.
Labels: CBU, DEBT, DENNY LUMBAMA, DORA SILIYA, PPPs, UNZA
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CBU shooting victim demands $6.7m
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 23 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
A COPPERBELT University (CBU) student who was shot and wounded by police has demanded that the government compensates him with similar amount being contemplated for Dr Rodger Chongwe, about US $6.7 million.
And Luena member of parliament Charles Milupi expressed worry that Zambia could become bankrupt if the government pays Dr Chongwe the US $6.7 million about K31 billion because many other victims will demand huge compensations.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding the government’s intention to pay Lusaka lawyer Dr Chongwe about US $6.7 million compensation for the shooting he suffered at the hands of police officers in 1997 in Kabwe, Cornelius Mwape, who was shot at during a demonstration at the varsity earlier this year, said he had not been compensated for the injuries he sustained.
“I have not been compensated,” complained Mwape in an interview on Monday. “I also want to be compensated. I would want similar amounts to what is being given to Dr Chongwe; somewhere there. Nothing else, only that I also want to be compensated.”
Mwape said though he had returned to the university, he was still experiencing problems with his healed injury.
“I have recovered. I am now back in school but when it gets cold I feel some pains,” said Mwape, a first year student.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde apologised to Mwape, his family and the nation over the shooting the student suffered.
In May last year, police in Lusaka shot and wounded two students - a second year student in the School of Engineering Chewe Chisala and a second year student in the School of Education Samuel Nasilele - during a students’ protest over 50 per cent increment in meal allowances.
This month, The Post revealed that government was intending to pay Dr Chongwe about US $5.9 million as compensation.
And Milupi said no one could be happy with what happened to Dr Chongwe but US $6.7 million would be too much as compensation.
“How do you then get equity in justice especially when you consider that a number of our own citizens and other citizens have also suffered before even worse. Many people have been shot and killed. Are they also going to receive such huge sums of money?” asked Milupi.
“If the nation can afford to pay such huge sums of money, how many can we pay before we go bankrupt as a nation? That is what we must apply ourselves to.”
Dr Chongwe justified his compensation claim, saying he was happy that the government was going to implement the decision and that President Rupiah Banda played a part in the matter.
However, President Banda through his spokesperson Dickson Jere, stated that he had blocked the payment of US $6.7 million to Dr Chongwe because the amount was too excessive and was going to set a bad precedent.
Contrary to that position, Vice-President George Kunda justified government’s intentions to pay Dr Chongwe US $6.7 million.
Labels: CBU, CHARLES MILUPI, ROGER CHONGWE
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CBU lecturer urges diversification of C/belt economy
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Wed 04 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
COPPERBELT University (CBU) School of Business Dean Dr Shadreck Chama has said there is need to look at new and innovative ways of diversifying the Copperbelt economy before it is too late. And CBU School of Business Lecturer Professor John Lungu has observed that no meaningful diversification will occur if there is no emphasis on entrepreneurship.
During an inception workshop dubbed 'Learning from local economic development practice to strengthen entrepreneurship in Zambia's Copperbelt' held at Shebourne Guest House in Kitwe yesterday, Dr Chama said the recent experiences arising from the global recession were a wake-up call that Zambia and the Copperbelt in particular could not forever depend on copper.
The inception workshop was between CBU and the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT) of the United Kingdom's Wolverhampton University.
Dr Chama said there was need to look for alternatives and imagine how the Copperbelt would be without copper.
He said there was urgent need to diversify and take entrepreneurship seriously.
And Prof Lungu said the business community was the only one capable of carrying out diversification through entrepreneurship.
He observed that although the Copperbelt had produced wealth that had sustained the country's economy since 1928, the sector had been steadily declining since the 1970's and that it was incapable of creating as much employment as it was in the past.
Prof Lungu said most mines were coming to the end of their productive lifespan and that were likely to close by 2017.
"So we have to ask ourselves, what will be Copperbelt without mining?" he said. "This is where we have to re-think and evaluate the role of CBU in restructuring the local economy. We need to make strong linkages between ourselves and industry."
He observed that over the years, universities, CBU included, had been working in isolation from what was happening in the communities surrounding their locations and that there was need for this trend to change if people were to appreciate universities.
Meanwhile, CBU Vice Chancellor Professor Mutale Musonda said CBU was eager to make a contribution on how job losses could be reduced using some strategies employed by other countries in turning around their economies.
Prof Musonda observed that job losses arising from the global economic downturn had sharpened existing needs for local economic development agenda focused on generating employment and thus on using local institutional capacity to upgrade entrepreneurial skills and enhance the employment prospects of students and other economically active people.
Labels: CBU, COPPERBELT PROVINCE, ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION
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Hikaumba urges CBU senate to reinstate expelled union leaders
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, September 14, 2009 5:43:11 AM
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has appealed to the Copperbelt University (CBU) senate to immediately reinstate the expelled union leaders.
Commenting on the CBU senate’s expulsion of Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) executive, Hikaumba said expelling students’ union leaders was not a solution to the frequent unrests at universities.
CBU in Kitwe re-opened yesterday.
“Since its not a solution, we want to appeal to the senate of the Copperbelt University to revisit the decision that they made to expel students’ union leaders because that will not resolve the problems that gave rise to the students’ protest,” said Hikaumba, who was part of the UNZASU executive that was expelled when he was a student several years ago. “As long as we do not focus on the real causes of these problems, as long as we address just the symptoms we shall always have problems at hand. So our appeal is that they should reinstate the students and then address the problem that caused the students’ unrest.”
He further urged the Ministry of Education to intervene if the senate would not rescind its decision.
“To our colleagues the students, we want to appeal to them that let us also try to find other ways of airing our grievances or emphasising our grievances because over time the main way of expressing themselves the students have had to embark violence,” Hikaumba said.
He said riots were not the right way to express grievances.
“In most cases when there is a riot, the victims are innocent people. In fact, sometimes the people who support the students fall victims,” said Hikaumba.
Last Monday, September 7, 2009, the CBU senate expelled the entire COBUSU leadership for having violated students’ rules and regulations as provided for in the students’ information handbook.
The senate further suspended students that were identified as having actively participated in causing disturbances at the institution between April 18 and August 12, 2009 pending appearance before the dean of students’ disciplinary committee.
Labels: CBU, COBUSU, LEONARD HIKAUMBA, ZCTU
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Reinstate expelled COBUSU leaders, demands Hichilema
Written by Agness Changala, Mutuna Chanda and Mwila Chansa
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 6:22:25 PM
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has demanded that the expelled union leadership at Copperbelt University (CBU) be reinstated immediately. Commenting on CBU management's decision to expel the students' union leadership for what they called breaching students rules and regulations following a riot that took place at the institution a few weeks ago, Hichilema said expelling students would not solve the problems facing the education sector in the country.
"We demand that this be done immediately, if it's not done, it will be done by the UPND-PF pact regime, 24 months from now and we will find a lasting solution to the problems at the universities and other colleges," he said.
Hichilema said the decision came as a result of management’s failure to solve the problems at the institution coupled with the MMD government's inability to address the problems in the education sector.
He said problems facing universities needed clean managers who would be able to reason and solve them as opposed to expelling students.
Hichilema said if shooting of students under President Rupiah Banda's government was easy, and that it should also not be difficult to reinstate the students.
And University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) president Duncan Nyirongo said students' representation was provided for in the University Act and that the senate had no authority to suspend students' representation in the institution.
He said the university's action was uncalled for as it showed how desperate the university authorities were and how undemocratic and oppressive they had become.
Nyirongo said the students would not take sequential approach but would take a parallel approach because they had seen that there was a totally tyrannical way of doing things by those they thought meant well.
Nyirongo said students would take the matter from the legal perspectives as well as civil and formal appeals to those in authorities.
And former Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) secretary general Christopher Kang'ombe condemned the senate's expulsion of the entire students union executive and suspension of some students.
The student leaders' expulsion comes in the wake of home affairs minister Lameck Mangani's sentiments recently in Chililabombwe that it was unfortunate that some of the COBUSU leaders may have to be expelled.
Kang'ombe demanded that the expelled and suspended students be reinstated to allow justice to prevail.
"I note with sadness that the suspended and expelled students have not been given an opportunity to exculpate themselves as demanded by the law," Kang'ombe stated. "My experience as a former leader is that when a student is accused of misconducting himself or herself, there must be an opportunity for the accused to write an exculpatory letter followed by a disciplinary hearing and in this case there is failure by CBU management to follow the procedure as outlined both in the students handbook and also in line with the rules of natural justice."
He stated that the disturbances that led to the closure of CBU should not be blamed on innocent union leaders and a few selected students.
"People will recall that the students had been demanding a report on why police shot and wounded a student [Cornelius Mwape] and why the Inspector General of Police had not disciplined the culprit officer," he stated. "This demand was followed by students to have Dora Siliya replaced as minister of education because according to the students, the judge [Dennis] Chirwa tribunal had found the minister of violating the Republican Constitution when she was at the Ministry of Communications. In my opinion the various stakeholders involved in managing the affairs of the university could have predicated the continued protests and to expel COBUSU leaders is very unfair and unjust."
Kang'ombe charged that it was clear that the decision to expel the union leaders was a directive from one of the government leaders.
"It is wrong for management and the police to single out the COBUSU executive as being responsible for disturbances at university because from my own experience you can't hold a union leader responsible for an action by a few students who attack motorists at night," Kang'ombe stated.
He advised the suspended students and expelled COBUSU leaders to take the matter to court if CBU management did not rescind its decision and resolve it in a diplomatic manner.
Former UNZASU treasurer general Johnstone Chikwanda appealed to the Copperbelt University senate to rescind its decision to expel the entire COBUSU executive.
"Anyone who is familiar with the challenges of student governance will attest to the fact that not all riotous behaviour is orchestrated by student leaders," Chikwanda stated. "Various forces within the student body can cause an explosion beyond the reach of its leaders. To lead is therefore to live dangerously. That is why, each riotous behaviour, is supposed to be studied case by case instead of going for the necks of student leaders each time there is entropy. The Universities Act provides for the place of student leadership. It occupies a critical role in the governance of the Universities and as such, it must not be instilled with fear by powers that be. World over, it is wrong to assume that the place of student leadership is the epicentre of every unrest that rocks a University."
Chikwanda stated that for a case of criminal indulgence to be sustained, CBU needed to prove that all student leaders took part in the riotous behaviour.
"They need to be guided by a system of identifying and harvesting the correct 'hot heads' instead of expelling everyone including those who were on sick bed and out of town. It is my prayerful appeal that the CBU revisits these expulsions and analyse them case by case," he stated.
Chikwanda stated that universities were institutions with sufficiently prudent systems and procedures.
"Therefore, when dispensing disciplinary actions, they must be seen to act within the precincts of natural justice where even the most egregious criminal is given an opportunity to tell the side of his case," he stated.
However, he advised students that while they had a right to demonstrate, they were not supposed to attack innocent people and destroy property.
"Students are not supposed to be egregious at violent behaviour," stated Chikwanda. "While it is provided for to hold lawful and peaceful demonstrations, students are supposed to conduct such demonstrations with the right decorum and demeanour so as not to destroy property and innocent people who are paying for their education."
Recently in Chililabombwe, Mangani said COBUSU leaders had to take responsibility for the confusion because according to him they were on record of having instigated it and that some of them would be expelled for that.
CBU senate on Monday resolved to re-open the institution on Sunday September 13 but expelled the entire COBUSU leadership for having violated students' rules and regulations as provided for in the students' information handbook.
The senate further suspended students that were identified as having actively participated in causing disturbances at the institution between April 18 and August 12 pending appearance before the dean of students disciplinary committee.
Labels: CBU, COBUSU, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA
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COBUSU leaders to sue govt for false detention
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Monday, September 07, 2009 2:46:12 PM
COPPERBELT University Student Union (COBUSU) vice-president Lucky Miyanda and secretary general Kenneth Sampa have indicated that they will sue the government for false detention and defamation of character.
Miyanda and Sampa who were detained after CBU students allegedly burnt down a vehicle belonging to a Kitwe businessman during a protest at the campus described their detention as politically motivated and meant to silence students.
"The whole thing is coming from above, our detention was politically motivated, and we were asked to give them the names of monks (male students), but I told them that I am not interested in other people's affairs. The interrogation officers were coming from Ndola," said Miyanda.
Miyanda said during the interrogations, police told him that he was detained because he was COBUSU vice-president..
"So because I am a vice-president for COBUSU, that is the reason why they detained me. In the near future, they should also consider arresting RB (President Rupiah Banda) or Sata (PF leader) when their cadres fight," he said.
He said the police had insufficient evidence over the matter and ended up labelling him a ‘stubborn leader’.
"They (police) started calling me stubborn, I am a good leader, that is why students like me at CBU," he said.
Miyanda wondered why the government just decided to single out the two COBUSU leaders who were not even on the scene when the incident happened.
And Sampa said the government was trying to look for loopholes so that they could silence the students.
He said the government would not stop their demands for it to look into the plight of Cornelius Mweetwa, the CBU student who was shot at by police.
Sampa reiterated the students' demands for President Banda to remove Dora Siliya as minister of education.
He said police were still following individual students at their respective homes.
"They are just looking for loopholes to silence us, we are not their enemies, we are enemies of injustice, we are intellectuals, we analyse issues, it is very unfortunate that the government is using poaching methods to try and silent us," he said.
Sampa said it was sad that CBU management had decided to close the learning institution indefinitely.
He said management at the campus would have solved the problems prevailing at the university without closing the institution.
Labels: ARRESTS, CBU, COBUSU, KENNETH SAMPA, LUCKY MIYANDA
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Indefinite closure of CBU
Written by Editor
Closing the Copperbelt University is not in any way a solution. Closing the university is the easiest thing one can do. And no one can fail to close a university. The decision to close Copperbelt University simply demonstrates that those in charge of that university are not working, are not exerting serious efforts to try and address the problems facing that university.
And above all, this only goes to demonstrate how low the priority they attach to the education of our young people and to the future of our country. We say this because people who value the future of their country always attach a very high priority and special attention to the education of young people.
It doesn’t make sense to close the university several weeks after the disturbances are over. And as Copperbelt University Students Union president Kasonde Mwenda has correctly observed, the reasons being given for the closure of that university don’t make sense. One doesn’t need to indefinitely close the university to investigate the causes of disturbances. This can be done while the university is running its programmes.
And the causes of the disturbances should be known to all who want to know. Only an incompetent management can really fail to know the problems of that university. If they don’t know, then they are too detached from the affairs of that university and the issues that concern students.
This is not the way to run such an important institution. And moreover, regrettably as it may be, the incident that led to the burning of that car was an isolated one by a band of students that detached itself from the main. This is common everywhere – rogues are found everywhere. Even in our political parties, there are rogues; there are uncontrollable elements who commit crimes but that has not been used as pretext to close or ban such political parties.
If this was the case, the MMD would have been closed or banned a long time ago for the many violent actions of its cadres against innocent people. Even some of its leaders are violent but no one has closed or banned that political party. There is no section of the community that has all the virtues, neither does any have all the vices.
There is need to exercise a lot of care in the way we treat young people, even when they are wrong. Young people are learning not only the courses they have registered for at the university. They are learning many other things, including how to meaningfully participate in the politics of their communities and their country. And they need to be helped. Their weaknesses should not be turned into permanent disabilities by unjustified expulsions.
All over the world, it is young people who are actually involving themselves in the struggles to eliminate injustices. They are the ones who most quickly identify with the struggle against injustices and the necessity to eliminate the negative conditions that exist.
Their violent actions should be seen not as a problem but a symptom of a problem; in the understanding that young people do better in a strong and decent community of people with principles, standards, common aims and values. The source of these problems is the community in which these young people are being educated. The source of the problems lies in the injustices that they see every day.
We don’t favour violence. If we could bring about recognition and respect of our young people without any form of violence, we would be happier. Everybody would like to preach his objectives and advance his interests peacefully. But sometimes ignorance and greed stands in the way of this. If our young people were properly educated – by properly educated, we mean given a true picture of where their country is coming from, where it is and where it is headed and the reasons for all this and their place in the scheme of things – we think many of them would be less violent and more rational.
But also let’s be fair to these young people because more often than not, they are the victims of violence – police violence. Their non-violent protests are usually met with police violence. And this overtime breeds a culture of violent resistance on their part. There is need also to respect young people as important citizens, or even as special citizens because they are actually special. We say they are special because the future of our country depends more on them than on anyone else; it doesn’t depend on people Dr Kenneth Kaunda used to say are in their afternoons.
This country is theirs, as well as ours, but in the last analysis, it is theirs. These young people, full of vigour and vitality, are in the bloom of life. Our hope should be placed on them. We must help them to understand life much better. We must help them to understand that ours is a very poor country, that we cannot change this situation radically in a short time, and that only through the united efforts of our younger generation and all our people working together with their own hands, can Zambia be made strong and prosperous.
And because of their lack of political and social experience, quite a number of young people are unable to see what forces are at play in their country. That’s why we must constantly carry on lively and effective political education among our young people and should always tell them the truth about the difficulties that crop up and discuss with them how to surmount these difficulties.
The young people are the most active and vital force in society. They are the most eager to learn and the least conservative in their thinking.
Instead of dealing with these young people in a ruthless manner, trying to crush them, we should be helpful to them and go into the question of bringing into full play their energy. We should not treat them in the same way as everybody else and ignore their special characteristics. Of course, the young people should learn from the old and other adults, and should strive as much as possible to engage in all sorts of useful activities with their agreement.
Zambia must care for her youth and show concern for the growth of the younger generation. Young people have to study. Full attention must be paid to their study and to their recreation, sport and rest.
We have to accept responsibility for the way our young people behave. We have a duty to nurture them. We can only have influence on them if we treat them fairly, justly and humanely. Let’s teach them the correct history of our country. Let’s show them how young the revolutionaries of this country were when they took up the responsibility for the liberation of their homeland.
Most of the freedom struggle revolutionaries were in their teens and twenties. But contrast their responsibility, their maturity with that of the young people of today! If we make them feel they are human beings, they are respected, they will behave like human beings and they will respect themselves and others. But if we treat them without respect and care, they will behave accordingly; they will not behave like human beings in a society of human beings.
So it takes education to change the behaviour and attitudes of our young. And just because one is in a university doesn’t mean one has education. We say this because the universities in this country today are not in the strict sense educating our young people, they are mis-educating them.
We are depriving our young people of a better future by not showing enough respect and by not giving them enough attention and care. And we should not be surprised when they start treating us not as friends but as enemies who are depriving them of their future and start fighting us to secure a better future for themselves.
These young people are not anarchists, they are not necessarily violent people. They do some of these negative things because they don’t know what else to do given the myriad of problems they face and the frustrations these generate. They have been waiting for the government to solve their problems: they have been waiting for the president to solve their problems; they have been waiting for parliament to solve their problems; they have been waiting for their political leaders to solve their problems; and all they hear are a lot of petty words.
So they become frustrated and don’t know what to do. So they do the only thing that all frustrated young people do: resort to violence and other antisocial behaviour. And this is behaviour is seen in young people all over the world who find themselves in similar situations.
We are not justifying violence. Not at all. But we are justified in talking like this because this is the type of experience our young people are faced with every day. And today they are trying to find their way in all this confused social milieu, trying to see things for themselves, listen for themselves and think for themselves, trying to come to an intelligent decision for themselves.
Clearly, education of our young people is a critical challenge facing our nation today. And we should pay a lot of attention to it if we are to produce the kind of young men and women so desperately needed by our country – young men and women not only of high culture but of great personality as well. Young people are called to develop their country and to love the culture of their people. They have the right to be stimulated to make sound moral judgments based on well-informed conscience.
Mistreatment of young people constitutes a crime against the future of these youths as well as against the interests of our country’s future. We have to develop the activities of our young people to the highest level possible. For these reasons, we feel the decision to close the Copperbelt University is unwise, unjustifiable and irresponsible. Whatever problems are at the Copperbelt University, we sincerely believe they can be tackled while the university is open and running. These young people have no time to lose, they need every day to advance themselves and help in the building of the future of their country. We therefore urge the authorities to rethink their position, mull over things and subordinate all that to the interests of these young people.
And this calls for the immediate reopening of that university and to struggle without respite to create a more favourable and conducive environment for the development of these young people. Bringing up a country of upright young people requires a lot of effort and not resigned submission to the most barbaric and backward methods of dealing with problems facing these young people. Closing a university whenever there are problems has never been and will never be a solution.
Labels: CBU, STUDENTS
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CBU closes indefinitely
Written by Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe and Mwila Chansa in Ndola
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 5:21:05 PM
COPPERBELT University (CBU) has been closed indefinitely following the disturbances that rocked the campus a few weeks ago.And home affairs minister Lameck Mangani has directed the police to ensure that the CBU students who were involved in the burning of a vehicle belonging to a Kitwe man are charged and prosecuted.
Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president Kasonde Mwenda confirmed the development in an interview yesterday. He said the decision to close the learning institution was arrived at during a senate meeting on Monday at the university.
"They are saying that the decision was made to allow management to have enough time to investigate the causes of the disturbances at the campus, and that this would serve as a remedial measure to avoid reoccurrence of similar events in the near future," he said.
Mwenda said the decision to close the university was very detrimental and unfortunate. He said investigations into the disturbances could have been carried out without closing the institution.
"It is inevitable to go for a short break, but an indefinite closure is detrimental," Mwenda said.
And COBUSU former finance secretary Masuzyo Nyirongo said the indefinite closure would inflict a lot of pain and frustration on the large populace of students who wanted to graduate and move on with their careers.
"Closures take a lot of time and age is catching up with everyone of us, as students, we need to be allowed to study and contribute to the welfare of our families and the nation," Nyirongo said.
Nyirongo said education minister Dora Siliya should put the interest of education and development first.
"I am pleading and forwarding a passionate appeal to the Ministry of Education to put the interest of education and development first, by intervening in the closure fiasco. I implore honourable Siliya to exercise parenthood and tolerance by not allowing CBU to close indefinitely," he said.
Nyirongo said there was need to put differences aside, saying it was cardinal for the government and students to work as partners if development was to be achieved.
"Because at the end of it all it is one nation we all wish to serve and see progress," Nyirongo said.
And addressing police officers at Ndola Central Police Station yesterday, Mangani directed the police to arrest all the students that were alleged to have burnt a vehicle belonging to a 76-year-old Kitwe resident.
Mangani observed that the path of democracy had brought challenges to the work of police officers.
Mangani cited the protest by CBU students, saying much as they had the right to protest, they had no right to infringe on other people's freedom and rights.
Recently, CBU students staged a demonstration demanding the removal of Siliya as education minister and that the policeman who shot their colleague Cornelius Mwape during another protest they staged at the campus [against theft of a laptop] earlier be arrested.
The students' march into town was peaceful and they were led back to their campus by police officers.
However, later in the evening some students allegedly burnt a vehicle belonging to a Kitwe resident.
Meanwhile, on the welfare of the police, Mangani said the government would settle electricity and water bills as an immediate remedy to the disconnection of supply to most police camps.
Mangani disclosed that the government was considering paying allowances for water, electricity and mealie-meal to officers as opposed to the current trend where bags of mealie-meal were given.
Mangani said the long-term measure to prevent electricity and water disconnection was to give officers allowances for that purpose.
"I am aware that you are facing a lot of challenges in the dispensation of your duties particularly the water and electricity disconnection due to non-payment," Mangani said.
He admitted that the issuance of officers with bags of mealie-meal had been inconsistent and that the solution was to offer such incentives in form of allowances to the officers' salaries.
He said the government wanted to make police officers responsible for the payment of their own bills hence plans to pay allowances for electricity and water.
He hoped that the plans would materialise by the time the next budget was presented.
He said the government wanted to erase the notion that the police service was full of misery.
Mangani also bemoaned the deteriorated state of houses along the borders and police camps most of which were built before independence.
Labels: CBU, COBUSU, KASONDE MWENDA, MASUZYO NYIRONGO
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Remind govt of its responsibility, KK tells media
Written by Agness Changala
Monday, August 17, 2009 2:12:42 AM
Dr Kenneth Kaunda has challenged the media in Zambia to remind government and political leaders of their responsibility to the nation. In an interview after he addressed women and children at Habitat for Humanity in Lusaka where he laid a foundation stone for the Tiyende Pamodzi community hall, Dr Kaunda said nobody needed to justify wrongdoing, regardless of who did it. He said it was the duty of the media to write about such issues.
“So you as our writers must go and remind us of our responsibility to the nation,” Dr Kaunda said.
He said everyone had a duty to fight and defend the country all the time by showing love to all mankind like God did regardless of where people came from.
Dr Kaunda also condemned the closure of Copperbelt University (CBU), saying two wrongs could never make a right anywhere in the world.
And Dr Kaunda welcomed the pact between the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF).
Commenting on sentiments that PF and UPND could not work together because the two political parties were perceived to belong to specific tribes, Dr Kaunda said there was nothing wrong with the pact as long as those involved were honest, sincere and meant what they thought, said and did.
“If any parties which are tribally based and now decide to come together are a welcome move as long as they are honest and sincere,” he said.
Dr Kaunda also said although the country was making some improvements in the fight against HIV and AIDS, there was no room for resting.
“We need to fight on and on because AIDS is still very far from being won,” said Dr Kaunda. “AIDS can’t be fought with normal speed but we need to run to fight it.”
And earlier, Dr Kaunda urged supporters of Tiyende Pamodzi women’s project to continue so that more mothers could benefit from the initiative. He said the laying of a foundation marked a magnificent milestone in collective efforts to provide appropriate shelter for the use of mothers who were members of the Tiyende Pamodzi women’s project.
Labels: CBU, KENNETH KAUNDA, MEDIA
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Harrington urges presidential advisors to assist Rupiah make informed decisions
Written by Maluba Jere in Lusaka and Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Sunday, August 16, 2009 3:57:55 PM
FORMER transport and communication minister William Harrington has said President Rupiah Banda’s advisors should assist him in making informed decisions and avert unfortunate situations at the country’s highest learning institutions.
And former Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) secretary general Christopher Kang’ombe has said the closure of CBU should have been the last resort.
Meanwhile, COBUSU president Kasonde Mwenda has observed that the closure of the institution would trickle down to every taxpayer in the long run, especially if management decides to prolong it beyond two weeks.
In an interview yesterday, Harrington said the protests by University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) students against the appointment of Dora Siliya as education minister could have been avoided if President Banda had serious and committed advisors at State House.
“The Presidents’ advisors should assist him to make informed decisions on important and sensitive national issues such as in the Dora Siliya case, to avert the unfortunate situation at our two highest institutions of learning,” he said.
“I say so because as first petitioner in the Judge Dennis Chirwa-led Tribunal appointed to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of office leveled against Ms. Dora Siliya, I recall that whereas Justice Philip Musonda delivered his judgment on Ms. Siliya’s application for judicial review on 16th June 2009, the President speedily went ahead to announce his decision to appoint Ms. Dora Siliya MP as new Minister of Education on 18th June 2009, replacing Mr. Geoffrey Lungwangwa MP who was transferred to the Ministry of Communications and Transport.”
He explained that he was not speaking as a spokesperson for the students but that he could only take a wild guess that they (students), just like many other enlightened citizens, were alive to these facts.
Harrington also said it was misleading and prejudicial for President Banda and others to say that Siliya had been cleared by the courts of law since the matter was still in court following his filling of a notice of appeal.
He said it would have been better if President Banda just informed the nation that he had intentions of reappointing Siliya as minister, adding that he should have waited until after the court had completely disposed of the case.
“Barely a week thereafter on 28th June 2009, the President went ahead to swear in Dora Siliya as new Minister of Education and publicly congratulated her on being ‘cleared by the courts’ over the findings of the tribunal,” Harrington said.
“The question that begs an answer is, was the President advised that the matter was still in the ‘courts’ and his statement was therefore prejudicial to my appeal? If the President had been well advised, perhaps he may not have made that premature declaration.”
Harrington further said chief government spokesperson Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha did not help the situation when he advised the consortium of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who had written to President Banda complaining about his decision to re-appoint Siliya when he said those who were not happy should go to court.
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s statement was not helpful to President Banda and the nation as a whole because the matter was yet to be decided by the Supreme Court.
“This statement by the honourable chief government spokesperson is misleading, prejudicial and most unhelpful to the President because, notwithstanding the fact that Dora Siliya has not been cleared by the ‘courts’ as the matter is yet to be determined by the Supreme Court of Zambia following my notice of appeal,” Harrington said.
And commenting on the decision by the CBU senate to bring forward the end of the second term, Kang’ombe who is also Riverside ward independent councillor, said the closure was unnecessary given the nature of students’ demands.
Kang’ombe said CBU management should have sought assurance from the students’ union body and had a round-table discussion with them in seeking a way forward.
He feared that as the situation stood currently, there was a possibility that the closure could be indefinite.
Kang’ombe added that the government’s accusations on students that they were being used by politicians would not solve the problems at CBU.
“I think there is need for stakeholders to appreciate each other’s concerns for peace to be guaranteed,” said Kang’ombe.
“It would not take a politician to tell the students to demand justice for their friend who was shot for example. I think issues should have been looked at separately. I don’t think students would wait for a politician to tell them what to do.”
And Mwenda described the closure as unfortunate.
Meanwhile, Mwenda called for a professional investigation into the alleged theft of K200 million from the man whose car was stoned and burnt on Thursday night.
Mwenda said as far as he was concerned, the students could not take responsibility for the lost money because it was far-fetched and based on hearsay.
“We just read about the issue of the money from the media but what I know is that if there was money involved, we could have heard it from the students themselves before we could even hear it in the media. I can only talk about what I can see which is the burnt car and not the money. It is unfortunate that the car was burned,” said Mwenda.
On Friday, the CBU senate brought forward the end of term two to allow management enough time to restore calm and bring back a conducive learning environment and ensure public safety at the institution.
This followed a demonstration on Thursday evening which resulted in students burning a private vehicle.
Labels: CBU, CHRISTOPHER KANG'OMBE, COBUSU, KASONDE MWENDA, WILLIAM HARRINGTON
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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
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Dora must go, demand CBU, UNZA students
Written by Patson Chilemba, Agness Changala, Mutuna Chanda and Zumani Katasefa
Thursday, August 13, 2009 2:02:04 PM
UNIVERSITY of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University (CBU) students yesterday demanded that President Rupiah Banda revokes the "immoral appointment" of Dora Siliya as education minister. In Lusaka during the class boycott, the students said they had given President Banda, Siliya and Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde a red card.
The students who had gathered at the famous monk square were led by University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) president Duncan Nyirongo.
During his address to the students, Nyirongo said it was demeaning to the integrity of the nation and that of the students to have a person who had failed to follow the laid down procedures on national issues such as Zamtel to serve as education minister.
He said the students wanted to see action from both President Banda and Kabonde over the shooting of students by police officers.
"So when I say I.G abash, you say IG or police, red card. Dora Siliya abash, you say Dora Siliya, red card. Rupiah Banda abash. Rupiah Banda, red card," Nyirongo said to the students who readily and willingly responded by saying, "abash Kabonde, abash Siliya, abash kanitundila” [referring to President Banda who made the same statement when a monkey urinated on him during a recent press conference at State House in June]."
The students, who carried red cards, raised them in approval to almost every statement Nyirongo made during his address. Nyirongo said it was totally immoral and demeaning to have a person like Siliya sit in Cabinet.
He said the students had resolved that Siliya should not even attend today's graduation ceremony to be held at the Great East Road campus in order to ensure a peaceful procession.
"It's unfortunate that Rupiah Banda can go to the extent of demeaning our intelligence. It is totally unfortunate that today he has forgotten where the party, which put him in power came from. Today, he has the audacity to say 'I don't want to listen to the students'," Nyirongo said.
"It's totally immoral [Siliya's appointment]. She should resign on moral grounds. The President should remove her from office. If he fails, the students are going to pass a vote of no confidence in him and his government."
Nyirongo said the students would not allow injustice in the nation. He said President Banda was elected to serve the Zambians and not to take them for granted.
Nyirongo said the students had lost confidence in Kabonde and the police service because they were busy shooting students and no action was being taken against the perpetrators.
He said journalists were also being beaten in full view of the police and senior government officials.
Nyirongo said the students wanted to see action from President Banda and not just merely condemning in words.
The students moved around the campus while others walked towards the gate in protest.
UNZASU vice-president Grant Chisapa asked President Banda to start appointing people on merit.
He said Siliya's clearance by High Court judge Philip Musonda would not take away the fact that she flouted tender procedure by disregarding the Attorney General's legal advice over Zamtel.
"Because of political interference, the High Court ruled in favour of Siliya. In other countries, it would not even take a demonstration such as this one for Siliya to resign. In other countries, just statements from people are enough to make someone resign," said Chisapa. "Rupiah Banda at the moment has no regret in whatever he says. If he can appoint Dora Siliya, then let him also appoint [MMD national secretary] Katele Kalumba, because what is the difference anyway?"
Chisapa said the "big man" who claimed that he would follow late president Levy Mwanawasa's legacy had totally disappointed the nation.
And CBU students staged a peaceful demonstration around Kitwe demanding the removal of Siliya from office and action against the shooting of a first year student recently.
Business in the Kitwe central business district came to a halt as shop owners hurriedly closed their shops fearing a nasty occurrence following the students’ demonstration.
The demonstration started after a students general meeting at the CBU monk square unanimously resolved to go on a two-day class boycott.
The students expressed displeasure that their colleague, Cornelius Mwape who was shot by the police, was still languishing in hospital while local government minister Benny Tetamashimba had been flown to South Africa.
One of the students said if the students did not do anything over Mwape's shooting, no justice would be done in the next five to 15 years.
He said the law needed to take its course and that going by the happenings in the country's justice system, previous cases were used as precedents in interpreting current and future cases.
The student said Mwape was unable to do anything now and that he had missed classes for two weeks.
He demanded that the government needed to compensate Mwape with no less than K20 million for the police shooting.
Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) vice president Lucky Miyanda declared that classrooms were a no-go area for students this week.
Miyanda then asked the students what they wanted to do and in response they demanded a peaceful demonstration into the city centre.
COBUSU president Kasonde Mwenda then proposed that students march through Chiwala Road using the CBU rear gate to "confuse the enemy."
The students who clearly outwitted police marched from CBU through Chiwala Road through Freedom Avenue into President Avenue and converged on City Square and Matuka Avenue.
The students interchanged singing of the national anthem with chants of 'Siliya must go!' as they walked and ran through the roads, causing panic among motorists who quickly made u-turns upon seeing the students who brandished tree branches while marching.
Throughout the march, the students policed themselves preventing their fellow students from attacking motorists.
While the students were at City Square chanting slogans, Kitwe District police commanding officer Nelson Phiri arrived with a few police officers and summoned Miyanda who explained to him what the protest was about.
The police who seemed to have been caught unawares appeared to have been doing some sort of damage control given that it was their recent shooting incident coupled with the students' anti-Siliya stance that sparked the protest.
Instead of arriving in their usual dramatic style of firing teargas to disperse such crowds, police arrived quietly and were in the peripheries of the happenings.
The students moved from City Square to the Freedom Statue on Matuka Avenue where they chanted slogans. Some striking Shoprite workers were seen joining the students in the protest.
A senior police officers only identified as Hachunde who was on the ground leading a few police officers armed with teargas canisters then asked student union leaders to lead the students away from Independence Avenue back to the City Square.
COBUSU president Kasonde Mwenda then told Hachunde that the police presence was attracting the students and that the students would only move away from Independence Avenue if he accompanied them.
Hachunde then accompanied the students and Mwenda briefly addressed the students.
Later at City Square Mwenda also told students that police needed to know that they were citizens beyond them.
He led students into anti-student-shooting chants and anti-Siliya shouts.
From the City Square, the students returned into Independence Avenue where they marched on into Kuomboka Drive past Kitwe Central Hospital before making a stop-over at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Kitwe studios.
However, the students just ended at the gate of the ZNBC Kitwe studios chanting anti-Siliya slogans.
CBU dean of students Emmanuel Chunda was present at ZNBC Kitwe studios monitoring the situation when the students were blocked from entering the premises.
The students then returned to CBU under police escort.
On arrival at CBU through Jambo Drive, the students lit a fire at the gate.
Labels: CBU, DORA SILIYA, UNZA, UNZASU
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Rupiah condemns use of live bullets on CBU students
Written by Staff Reporter
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3:15:19 PM
President Rupiah Banda has condemned the use of live ammunition by police in quelling disturbances that occurred at the Copperbelt University on Monday. Speaking in Kampala yesterday where he addressed Zambian residents in that country, President Banda said he was disappointed that police used live rounds of ammunitions to disperse students.
He said he did not understand why the police resorted to shooting the students instead of using other options like teargas.
“I am glad that the police commissioner is here with me, I want to know why the police used live ammunition, I am not happy at all. This report has disturbed me and spoiled my stay here in Uganda,” said President Banda.
President Banda said he was particularly disappointed to learn that the violence and riotous behavior at the University emanated from a trivial matter which involved theft of a laptop computer.
A Copperbelt University student Cornelius Mwape was shot in the lower abdomen by a police officer during the unrest and has been admitted at the Kitwe general hospital.
Labels: CBU, POLICE BRUTALITY, RUPIAH BANDA
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I do not need permission from opposition, students to appoint Dora
Written by Staff Reporters
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:21:04 PM
President Rupiah Banda has said he does not need permission from the opposition or students to appoint Dora Siliya or any individual to a government positions. And President Banda has announced
a freeze on the purchase of luxury motor vehicles in the public service and the full utilisation of available personal to holder motor resources as part of measures to respond to the financial challenges being experienced by the country.
Announcing a mini-reshuffle during his second press conference since assuming office, President Banda said while there had been some comments made following his recent re-appointment of Siliya it was within his powers as Republican President.
“They should know that a President does not need permission from the opposition or students,” President Banda said, in apparent reference to the University of Zambia students who have rejected Siliya’s appointment.
Later when responding to a question from a journalist about his swift re-appointment of Siliya, President Banda said it took him mere 24 hours to effect the appointment.
“It took me just 24 hours to re-appoint Dora Siliya. But also inform the people that it took me five minutes when I was informed that a citizen had filled a complained about her. And it took me a further five minutes to authorise that resources be made available for the setting up of a tribunal,” President Banda said.
“So now what is wrong with accepting the outcome of the court, women are not even standing up when one fellow woman was victimised.”
The President has appointed Dr Austin Sichinga as his Chief of Staff at State House moving from the position of Senior Private Secretary a position that he said would be filled later.
He has also dropped science and technology permanent secretary Ignatius Kashoka whom he has replaced with Mukuka Zimba from the Ministry of Transport and Communication in the same capacity.
He has also dropped Davison Chilipamushi from community development and social welfare permanent secretary who he has replaced with Gladys Kristafor.
He has moved Dr Buleti Nsemukila to the ministry of trade and commerce as permanent secretary while Southern Province deputy permanent secretary Aaron Zulu who has been appointed Commissioner for the Drug Enforcement Commission.
Earlier in his address on the economic situation, President Banda said the nation faced serious financial challenges and demanded sacrifice from government leaders and officers in the public service.
He has since directed controlling officers in all government wings to ensure that the directive was immediately implemented.
He noted that revenue collections had dropped below the projected level while there had been mounting pressure from the public service for remuneration packages beyond the budgeted amount.
President Banda said the budget was under further added pressure further on account of recent withdrawal of funding by some donor agencies.
He said as part of some measures to address the budgetary pressure, he had ordered the full utilisation of personal-to-holder-vehicles for their intended purposes instead of simply being parked at their homes.
He further ordered a ban on fresh purchases of luxury vehicles while trips abroad would be reduced to the barest minimum based on necessity.
He said the frequency of workshops in government ministries and departments would also be reduced to only cases on necessity while they would be held in government establishments instead of lodges, hotels and other such establishments that were costing the government huge amounts in expenditure.
President Banda said on the question of the recent demands by the public service including the support by political leaders on the rejection of the awarded 15 per cent salary increment, that government was constrained in terms of resources.
He said he was concerned that the nation had experienced strike action by some sections of the public service although it was difficult to meet the demands as presented.
And President Banda has disassociated himself from the purchase of hearses recently purchased from China.
He said while he appreciated that Zambians needed to offer a decent send off or burial to their relatives and families, he said the procurement never at any point come across the matter in the cabinet meeting.
He said he was not privy to the deal that he said was handled outside Cabinet but directly by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
He said he had not stopped anyone including former minister Sylvia Masebo from talking about the hearse deal, adding that he needed more information like the rest of the public.
More follows.
Labels: CBU, DEMONSTRATION, DORA SILIYA, RUPIAH BANDA
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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
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CBU lecturer highlights manufacturing, agriculture as sectors with potential
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:15:51 AM
COPPERBELT University lecturer in the school of business Mundia Kabinga has highlighted manufacturing and agriculture as sectors with potential to raise Zambia's income in the face of low copper prices.
At a recent Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) Africa Resource Centre meeting on the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) in Kitwe, Kabinga singled out manufacturing and agriculture as some of the sectors that could raise the country's income.
He said the sectors had shown potential for growth and that if focused on could increase the country's fortunes.
"Under manufacturing, the first consideration is pretty much engineering products," Kabinga said.
"In 2007 we basically had engineering products exports increase to US $210 million as opposed to earnings of US $21.3 million in 2001. So there has been over 1000 per cent increase in engineering products. So this sector is one of the areas that Zambia could focus on in the face of the reducing copper prices and focus on producing engineering products. This was a result of manufacturing products such as copper rods, telecommunication cables and related products. This also was a result of the SADC Trade Protocol, which enabled us to access the South African market. The other products that are included are products like textiles, cement and products like sulphuric acid as well biofuels."
Kabinga observed that Zambia seemed to lack the political will to diversify from copper dependency.
"There seems to be a lack of political will to diversify the economy from copper and copper production," he observed.
"The lack of political will in part is because we had favourable copper prices in between. So with the favourable copper prices there is actually no real need to diversify. It's only times like this when copper prices are low that we have the impetus to diversify."
Kabinga also pointed to evidence of rising revenues from the agriculture sector.
"We see that agriculture basically turning US $182 million in 2007 as opposed to US $51.36 million in 2001. That is basically 300 per cent increase over six years. The main products are tobacco, cotton lint and coffee. In addition to this, we have fruits and mixed vegetables that are basically targeted at the UK and European markets. Closely associated with agriculture are the processed and refined foods. This has recorded growth from US $43 million in 2001 to US $115 million in 2007 which is almost 300 per cent increase as well. And this basically is a result of the volumes of sugar that were basically exported to the EU and the SADC region. In agriculture, we have the element of horticulture and floriculture. In 2007 horticulture had exports of US $37 million as opposed to US $23 million in 2006."
Kabinga added that Zambia's export earnings from horticulture and floriculture products could increase this year due to the depreciation of the kwacha against major convertible currencies.
He further said the Copperbelt Province could tap into tourism and use the sector to increase the country's income.
"We can market our culture - the way of life in the Copperbelt and the history of the province - and this could be incorporated into other packages that are being offered like a tour to Livingstone," he suggested.
"The targets could be the Chinese tourists who seem not so much affected by the global economic slowdown. And looking into the future, once the Copperbelt is done with copper and copper production, there is actually need to look at how the way of life on the Copperbelt would be sustained."
Kabinga also said Zambia's entrepreneurs seemed more focused on the local market without looking to opportunities to export.
He said Zambia needed a business class that would also focus on the export market.
Kabinga meanwhile pointed to poor infrastructure and high cost of doing business in the country as some of the challenges that needed to be addressed.
Labels: CBU, ECONOMY, MUNDIA KABINGA
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