URNING UNZA INTO A POLITICAL BATTLEFIELD IS A SENSELESS AND SELFISH DECISION
We note with profound concern and immense disappointment that, in his quest for favorable opinion and praise singing, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND have decided to turn our universities and colleges into political breeding grounds.
This development is both unfortunate and unacceptable. We therefore, urge Zambians, particularly the academia and the masses at large to take keen interest in what is being done, especially at the University of Zambia (UNZA).
While Mr. Hichilema and the UPND are at liberty to recruit and mobilize the young people for political support, it must never be done in a manner that is destructive, divisive, and detrimental to the integrity and well being of our higher institutions of learning. We say this because we have noticed a very disturbing and retrogressive pattern forming around this issue.
UNZA and indeed all institutions of higher education in this country, must not be reduced to arenas of cheap caderism and partisan politics. It must be recognized that these are spaces for intellectual development, knowledge sharing, research, and the pursuit of national progress, and not political patronage or political influence.
We appeal to the student population at UNZA and elsewhere in the country not to allow themselves to be exploited for temporary gains or cheap handouts. We urge them to be cognizant of the fact that they are the real custodians of Zambia’s future. It is therefore, their duty to ensure that they uphold the dignity, decorum and credibility of these institutions. Otherwise, if they compromise or fail to respect their obligations in this regard, they risk being judged harshly by posterity.
It is also high time Mr. Hichilema and the UPND realized that state interference in student politics risks undermining the credibility and ability of universities to serve their true purpose. History has shown that when political agendas overshadow educational objectives, institutions of higher learning tend to lose focus on their core mandate, which is academic inquiry, student growth and national service.
Further, it’s common knowledge that any government’s heavy-handed involvement in student politics may backfire, thereby generating tension, division and instability within the academic community. Universities and other higher learning institution need be protected from politicization, as their role is to nurture knowledge, innovation and leadership for the nation’s development.
We therefore call upon the UPND to desist from dragging universities and higher learning institutions into partisan politics, and we urge students to safeguard their institutions from being turned into political barracks. This is dangerous and potentially disturbing for students, in relation to the university calendar, and should not be tolerated.
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party
UNZA has been turned into a political battlefield because of the politicization of the institution, particularly the Dean of Students Affairs office. That office which used to be occupied by senior academic members of staff like Drs Chisepo Mphaisha, Bonard Mwape, Frederick Ng’andu and Bizeck Phiri is now occupied by a UPND cadre in the name of John Munkombwe whose only qualification is counseling. He has a direct line to State House and is responsible for organizing for UPND party regalia and money for students and mobilizing them to support the party in government. He does that with his deputy who is also another UPND cadre. The Dean of Student Affairs office, and not the Registrar’s office, has also been responsible for massive transfers of support staff in UNZA with the aim of placing UPND supporters in units or departments they prefer to be.
And you call yourself a Dr with such narrow sentiments as if you are a grade 7 student.Whoever gave you that title should be arrested and as for you,take yourself to chainama for medical and mental check up
Hogwash
M’membe should wait for next year, aka ka UNZA support ni ka dyonko che. Next year the gentleman is likely to collapse because of high BP. Bally is a friend of everyone, students, farmers, Chiefs, Retirees, Soldiers, Defence Forces in general and general citizenry are all his friends. So this is the friendship and popularity which M’membe and his friends have failed to make with the people. Propaganda and everything else can’t work out for them, Mwamba and Haa somebody are almost running of gas, Bally wakuleka fye.
Membership.Am told you hired a helicopter.Just fly around campus with loudspeakers and send your own message to the students
It is definitely not a good idea to turn institutions of learning into a political arena. Student unions must be non-partisan.
Union members must feel comfortable with their unions irrespective of their individual political leanings.