Luo blasts lecturers over poor conduct

MINISTER of Higher Education Professor Nkandu Luo has charged that recent riots at the Copperbelt University (CBU) could have been incited by some lecturers because their conduct during her visit to the institution was not inspiring.

She said she was disappointed that after having a fruitful meeting with the students in the hall, the lecturers and other workers entered the hall carrying placards, with one of the placards saying “Ni university yanyoko’’

She said she could not understand why lecturers who should provide leadership could behave in such a manner when the students themselves had behaved in a good manner during the meeting.

“I have an impression that some of the behaviour of the students including the riots are incited by the lecturers because while the students behaved in a good manner during a meeting, their lecturers behaved in a way which was not inspiring,” she said.

Prof Luo said this at a meeting with medical students at Michael Chilufya Sata school of medicine in Ndola, whom she advised to continue being exemplary and desist from engaging in riotous behaviour that may result in injuries or loss of life.

Professor Luo said medical students were future doctors whose responsibility was to save lives and so they should not involve themselves in riots because such activities may cause injuries or deaths.

The Minister of Higher Education was speaking on Thursday afternoon during a meeting with medical students at Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine.

She said medical students, even those from UNZA Ridgeway Campus are not involved in riotous activities because they know that their responsibility was to save lives and so they should not involve themselves in activities which were against their responsibilities.

“The problem with riots is that people are injured or may even be killed. Where there are riots, there is police brutality. This is why I don’t like riots. So as medical students, you should remain disciplined and please do not learn bad habits of rioting from your colleagues.

“Your responsibility, as doctors, is to save lives and so don’t get involved in riotous behaviour which may result in injuries or loss of lives. Even your colleagues at UNZA Ridgeway campus have never been involved in riotous behaviour because they know their role is to save lives,” Professor Luo said.