STUDENT leaders on the Copperbelt Province have spoken out over their purported unhealthy relationship they shared with ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential running mate in the August 12 general elections Professor Nkandu Luo.
The purpoted unhealthy relationship was said to have emanated from the closure of the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University as well as the abolishment of meal allowances at the two public institutions of higher learning when Prof Luo served as Minister of Higher Education a few years earlier.
The students have said through their elected leaders that the alleged resentment between the two parties was just a sponsored manoeuvre by some bitter members of the opposition political parties who used social media to champion their selfish agenda of pitting the student populace against the government.
Speaking when student leaders from various institutions of higher learning on the Copperbelt met and interacted with Vice-President Inonge Mutukwa Wina in Kitwe, Thursday, Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president Lawrence Kasonde said there was never a time when he or his colleagues in the union shared an unhealthy relationship as propagated by some people with malicious intent to cause hatred.
“When I was expelled from CBU sometime back, there was never a day when Professor Luo turned me down everytime I reached out to her. She has always been there to counsel us throughout till we got back in school,” Mr. Kasonde said.
He commended Prof Luo for having a motherly heart and not giving up on the students whenever they had differences when she served as Higher Education Minister.
Mr. Kasonde said it was in that regard that the student populace was in total support of President Edgar Lungu’s choice of Prof Luo as his running mate ahead of August polls.
He highlighted the increase in the number of public universities from two to 19 and the extension of government loans and scholarships to students from privately owned tertiary institutions as some of the milestones which Prof Luo scored.
“It is so unfortunate that the opposition are always wanting to capitalise on the abolishment of meal allowances yet they are paying a blind eye to the achievements in the education sector by the Professor Luo under the Patriotic Front government. How about that student from a privately owned college who could not afford a place in a tertiary institution?” Mr. Kasonde asked.
Meanwhile, Prof Luo who was also part of the meeting expressed gratitude to the student populace for holding her in high esteem and considering her as a mother figure despite the differences they experienced in the past.
Prof Luo advised the students to remain steadfast in standing up for the truth and not fall for the cheap lies propagated by the opposition aimed at bringing confusion.
“Those people know another Professor Luo and not the one that you the students know. I can confidently tell you that the Professor Luo that you know is the correct one so don’t be swayed by their malicious talk,” Prof Luo advised.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Inonge Wina has commended the student leadership for taking part in programs that contributed to the sustainable development of the nation.
“You are no no longer the leaders of tomorrow. You are leaders of society today because you’re providing the needed leadership at your level today and that should be commended,” Mrs Wina said.