MEAL ALLOWANCE CRISIS PUSHING STUDENTS INTO VICES – MUNDUBILE
Lusaka, Zambia – Tonse Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has questioned why the UPND government has maintained the university meal allowance at K500, arguing that the amount is no longer adequate due to the rising cost of living.
Speaking during a campaign engagement, Mundubile said students received the same K500 meal allowance during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration when a 25kg bag of mealie meal cost around K120. He noted that the price of mealie meal has since risen to nearly K400, making the allowance insufficient to meet students’ basic needs.
Mundubile claimed that the inadequate meal allowance has forced some students to engage in various vices in order to survive while pursuing their studies.
He pledged that, if elected, his government would increase the meal allowance and extend the support to students in all eligible learning institutions across the country. He said the move would help improve students’ welfare and create a better learning environment.
Current Zambia