New ZANASU declares no riots in universities

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 13:16:55 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

WE do not expect any riotous behavior from students under our leadership because we are ready to dialogue with government and resolve grievances amicably, newly elected Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) president Joseph Busenga has said.

Mr Busenga, who is also NIPASU president said that he would not expect students from any institution of high learning in Zambia to riot because he would ensure that there was dialogue between student bodies and Government.

He explained that riotous behavior had so far not resolved anything and that a lot of property had since been damaged as a result of the vice.

Mr Busenga pointed out that students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) were made to pay for the damage after an intense riot at the main campus and that the money would instead have been used to buy study materials.

He strongly warned that students should desist from engaging in riotous behavior and that the union would not support anyone found wanting.

Mr Busenga however noted that the concerns students raised were valid and that they affected their academic performance.

“The concerns that students raise are valid and they affect their academic performance. So we will dialogue with government, we will not support nor tolerate riotous behavior by students because there is no gain in that. Riots so far have not been known to work, that’s why we will try a different strategy” he said.

Mr Busenga disclosed that he would first of all start by engaging with different student bodies to ensure that they shared in his vision. He said that together they would reason with the entire student population in the realisation that dialogue, rather than aggregation was the way forward.

Mr Busenga expressed confidence that Government would respond to the different needs of the students through dialogue and understanding.

Meanwhile, Mr Busenga also advised that the student loan scheme to be introduced next year by Government should be aimed at students from marginalized families.