Own up, start managing country well, UNZASU tells UPND
UNZASU president Gabriel Banda says students have high expectations from the new dawn administration because of the many promises UPND officials made prior to and post last year’s elections.
In an interview, Banda recalled that the UPND had promised to reinstate meal allowances immediately they formed government but nothing has happened so far.
“They are still blaming the previous government for the student loans! You are in government, don’t blame the people that have gone. We voted the PF out so that we see change. The change is here. The students are expecting their government now to help them,” he said.
“So, government cannot be saying ‘no, the previous government did not budget’…stop the blame games. Own up and start managing this country well. And as a student union we expect government to give students loans.
Government has money. If they have money to increase CDF from K1.6 million to K25.7 million, are you telling me they cannot find a K295 million to support 8,000 students at the university?”
He said the UPND should provide a roadmap to all their promises, now that they are in power.
“The ball is in their hands. The youths voted for them, but if you disappoint the youths who voted for you then you are giving them a reason not to support you. As a union we work with the government of the day, we have high expectation from the new dawn because they promised us a lot,” Banda said.
“Already they promised to reinstate the meal allowances immediately they form government but they have not done that. They have not provided any roadmap. Clearly, they have not provided any roadmap. We hear of pronouncements but we have not been invited so that they update us. So, we just urge the new dawn government to provide policy guideline and to provide leadership and, especially, to engage UNZASU on matters that affect the students and matters that affect the country.”
And Banda revealed that of the over 2,000 students that the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board awarded loans, only 11 from the school of education got them.
Credit: The Mast