UNZA risks closure over go-slow – Mumba

Wed, 31 May 2017 12:48:45 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

THE University of Zambia (UNZA) risks being closed if the go-slow by staff members continues, warns Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba.

Professor Mumba said that UNZA risked being closed if the action by members of the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) to boycott some classes continued.

Prof. Mumba maintained that the huge debt owed to the lecturers and researchers was making it hard for management to meet their demands.

He said in an interview with the Daily Nation that Government would not let UNZA operate without providing the necessary service to the students.

Prof. Mumba called on staff members who were on a go-slow to get back to work as management was making efforts to meet part of their demands.

He explained that UNZA management could not meet all the demands of UNZALARU as the debt being demanded was too huge.

Prof. Mumba said that staff who were on a go-slow were demanding to be paid all their backdated gratuities but that it was an exorbitant amount for the university to settle at once.

“This is not something that can be done overnight, the quantum is so huge and will require time. It cannot be done without the intervention of Government because the debt is huge,” he said.

Meanwhile, UNZALARU secretary general Kelvin Mambwe vowed that the go-slow would continue until management and Government showed genuine commitment towards meeting their obligations.

Prof. Mambwe disclosed that UNZA management had so far released about K7 million towards dismantling the debt but that it was not enough.

“While we acknowledge management’s commitment so far, by allocating about K7 million towards dismantling the debt owed to UNZALARU members, the amount is too inadequate to meet members’ expectations,” he said.

Prof. Mambwe also said that Governments’ plan of dismantling the debt over a period of three years was not convincing.