By NATION REPORTER
FISHO Mwale, the former Lusaka Mayor says linking the surveillance system to the National Intelligence System will be a violation of individual liberties and would certainly pose a threat to student privacy.
Mr Mwale said the recent announcement by President Hakainde Hichilema regarding the installation of CCTV cameras at universities, stating that such measures should be approached with caution.
The former mayor warned that linking the surveillance system to the National Intelligence System could pose a threat to both individual student liberties and the university community as a whole.
“Universities thrive on an open exchange of ideas, creative thought, and the freedom to engage in political and social discourse without fear of surveillance,” he said.
Mr Mwale questioned the necessity of such an initiative, pointing out that the country already had a US$200 million Safe City Project, which included a command centre and over 200 cameras on major roads, including at the entrance of UNZA.
He said traditionally, universities had their own security services, and the involvement of state security in academic institutions during peacetime raised concerns about the government’s intentions.
Mr Mwale also challenged the rationale behind the move, questioning whether crime levels on university campuses were high enough to justify such an investment.
“Do social issues, such as relationships between students and older individuals, warrant surveillance? CCTV would be ineffective in addressing such matters. Advancements in modern drone technology had rendered traditional CCTV systems less effective,” he said.
Mr Mwale proposed that biometric gate passes be introduced as a more efficient and cost-effective security measure.
He was sceptical about the real purpose of surveillance cameras stating there could be a possibility of political moves behind the initiative.
“Excessive monitoring of students could stifle the intellectual vibrancy of university environments. Maybe it’s about hot politics on campus. There could be deeper, undisclosed reasons behind the move,” Mr Mwale wondered.
