We won’t be intimidated, warns UNZA chancellor
Fri, 12 May 2017 12:37:23 +0000
By AARON CHIYANZO
THE University of Zambia (UNZA) management will not be intimidated and back down on the decision not to allow students who have not paid at least 37 percent of the tuition fees to sit for examinations, says UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba.
Students have threatened to stage protests should the university authorities go ahead with plans to stop students who have not paid their full tuition from sitting the exams.
Prof Mumba said that students who have not paid the agreed 37 percent of the tuition fees by mid-semester would not be allowed to access university services.
He reiterated that the university needed money to clear salaries for staff members and other expenses.
Prof Mumba pointed out that the university depended on the same money for its operations for them to continue offering the required services to students.
He however said that most of the students on self-sponsorship had not paid the agreed percentage but that they still wanted to access university services for free.
Prof Mumba said that the university would not be threatened by the riotous behave of students and back down on their decision.
“The agreement clearly states that students are supposed to pay at least 37 percent of the tuition fees by this time of the semester. So all those who have not paid will not be allowed to access our services even if they threaten to riot,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prof Mumba explained that the students almost rioted last Wednesday because they thought the university management was planning to chase away students who had not cleared their fees.
He said that the students had misunderstood management’s intentions and that it was the reason they almost caused havoc at the campus.
Prof Mumba however assured that management had fruitful meetings with the student leadership where they explained their plans.
He claimed that the university management was now in good books with the students but that they still expected those who had not paid up to 37 percent of the fees to do so before being readmitted at the university.
Prof Mumba also warned parents of students on self-sponsorship to pay the required amount on time or their children would not be allowed to access university services.
