I won’t quit - CBU vice chancellor

COPPERBELT University Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma says he will not resign from his position as demanded by the unionised workers at the institution.

Prof Ngoma said he was not employed by the unionised workers who were demanding his removal but by the government. ‘’I’m not employed by the workers, or whatever they call it the Academics Union. We are all of us employed by government through the council and the Ministry of Higher Education,” Prof Ngoma said. Prof Ngoma said only the government had powers to decide whether or not to get rid of him. He has since challenged the workers who want to hound him out of the office to present their facts to the right authority if they had any. He said should the workers not resume work as demanded in the protests, the government will take necessary action against them. Prof Ngoma was saddened that the issues at CBU were politicised by some so-called union leaders who were feeding their members with the wrong information. He said unions were also partly to blame because they were failing to communicate to their members effectively concerning the happenings at the university. On Wednesday this week, CBU unionised workers protested demanding the resignation of the Vice Chancellor citing incompetence and dictatorial behaviour towards workers. The unionised workers have accused Prof Ngoma of failing to run the institution effectively since he took over as vice chancellor. Unionised workers have also accused Prof Ngoma of misusing the money meant for CBU projects for non priority areas such as the multi facility tent and making unnecessary trips in and outside the country. The unionised workers yesterday all dressed in black marched around the Riverside university campus chanting anti Prof Ngoma slogans. Asked why the unionised workers shunned the meeting called by officials from State House in Kitwe the workers’ spokesperson, Dr Derrick Ntalasha said there was communication breakdown from both sides.