STUDENTS UNION NOT BANNED, STATE HOUSE CLARIFIES

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 10:15:42 +0000

By Oscar Malipenga

THERE has been no directive from the President to ban the existence of the students’ union at the University of Zambia (UNZA), special assistant to the president for press and public relations Amos Chanda has clarified.

Mr Chanda, who made an impromptu appearance at the public talk dapped “The Challenges of Democracy in Zambia,” expressed disappointment at the obvious calculated intention to damage the Zambian government’s reputation.

Mr Chanda also dispelled assertions that Zambia had become undemocratic.

Speaking at a public talk hosted by the Voice of America and moderated by Straight Talk Africa presenter Mr Shaka Ssali at the UNZA, Mr Chanda clarified that the students union had not been banned at all.

He was responding to a question from a student who wanted to find out why Government had banned the University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU).

Mr Chanda expressed shock at the misrepresentation of facts, adding that no such action had been taken.

And in an interview with journalists after the discussion, Mr Chanda expressed disappointment at the obvious calculated intention to damage the reputation of the Zambian government that he had witnessed at the public discussion.

“It is such falsehoods which when reported in the media internationally cause damage to the reputation of the Zambian government.

“Such calculated attempts to tarnish the image of Zambia by international media. If the clarification had not been made, the entire international community would have been miss informed that UNZASU had been banned. Which is totally false,” he said.

Other panelists were lawyer Mr Dickson Jere, political science lecturer Mr Lee Habasonda, executive director of Alliance for Community Action Laura Miti and UNZASU vice-president Piyo Ndhlovu.

President Lungu’s press aide, who was asked to speak within three minutes by the moderator, dispelled the notion that Zambia was undemocratic.