In attempting to address the escalating protests and riots taking place at the University of Zambia, representatives of the government took to the radiowaves, but the problem only became worse.
University of Zambia Great East Road campus students have declared their school a no-go area for Sunday Chanda and Kennedy Kamba, the executive director of Speech for Growth and Patrotc Front (PF) Lusaka youth chairperson, respectively.
Many students interviewed said the duo were enemies of the university because they were insolent towards the students.
On Wednesday, Sunday Chanda escaped from threats of a violent attack at the Great East Road campus after he made disparaging remarks against the students during a live programme on the campus radio.
Chanda was on air attacking the student body and leaders of the protest movement for having disobeyed the PF, which angered the students. The students surrounded UNZA radio as they waited for Chanda to conclude his programme, but before they could descend on him, a battalion from the Zambia Police armed in riot gear arrived just on time to give him an armed escort, but he was made to apologise to the protesting students.
During the live radio programme, Chanda defended the PF government removal of subsidies on fuel and maize, which the students had been opposing during their meeting at the infamous monk square within the university premises.
Chanda alleged that UNZA students were be irrational to protest against the PF’s removal of subsidies because students ought to be in lecture rooms and not on the tarmac, breaching the law and disturbing public order.
On Kennedy Kamba, the students said the PF youth leader must never set his feet on the UNZA campus because he had openly declared that he was an enemy of the learners.
Kamba had said that the students were being used by the opposition MMD and United Party for National development (UPND) to stage public protests against the removal of subsides.
He said that the UNZA students were being political and trying to make the PF government fail to run the affairs of Zambia.
But the students said Kamba must try and test his popularity by visiting the UNZA great road campus.
“Let that youth leader Kennedy Kamba come here. We shall teach hima lesson of his life. He is revered among political cadres, but here, we do not tolerate such characters. The countr is sliding into a depression and Kamba is defending. What has angered us the most are his insults and cheap politicking on us,” said James Kaminda, a fourth year student in mining engineering.
Another student, Cleapha Chabu said Sunday Chanda and Kennedy Kamba were hired guns. He said such characters were the one who were manipulating the people’s needs and turning Zambia into a country of people who are just politicking.
“We were promised so many things, but look what is happening. We are annoyed because Kamba has insulted us and we want him to come to UNZA then we can meet him. We are not political cadres that can dance to his low tricks,” Chabu said.
During the week, UNZA students protested against government’s decision to remove subsidies on fuel and the staple. The students complained that the cost of living would skyrocket with the suspension of subsidies.
Scores of UNZA students marched peacefully along the great east road in protest against the government decision, bu Kamba and Sunday Chanda had been condemning the students for airing their views.
Hitherto, a battalion of armed police is keeping vigil on the students lest they degenerate into a full blown riot.
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