CBU staff suspensions threat to reopening
COPPERBELT University Workers Unions says the continued charges and illegal suspension of staff are a threat to the re-opening of the institution.
CBU Academic Union President Derrick Ntalasha said it must be understood that the prolonged entertainment of Prof. Ngoma by government will derail the re-opening of the institution.
Mr Ntalasha said it was clear that Professor Naison Ngoma did not value education and the lives of many young Zambians at the university.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr Ntalasha said the university is failing to open not because government is not helping but because of the Professor’s refusal to resign as Vice chancellor of CBU.
Mr Ntalasha said the lack of academic activity when the university opens due to Prof Ngoma’s continued stay in office had the potential to cause anxiety among the students.
He said when students return to CBU without resuming academic activities government would still be expected to pay for their upkeep which would result in protracted expenses.
Mr Ntalasha who spoke on behalf of Copperbelt University Senior Administrative, Professional and Technical Staff Union (CUSATU), Copperbelt University Academics Union (CBUAU) and Copperbelt University and Allied Workers Union (CBUAWU), said the illegal actions would not intimidate or scare the members of staff.
Mr Ntaasha cautioned the public that it would be dangerous for any rightful thinking parents to send their children to CBU with Prof Ngoma at their helm.
He said the unions would keep on cautioning the public about the this matter because they did not want to be blamed when the institution reopened and chaos erupted.
“The vice Chancellor Prof Naison Ngoma believes that the solution for his staying at the CBU is by instilling fear and intimidation of unionised staff through illegal charges letters and suspensions of the union’s executive and unionised employees whom he has placed on half salaries without following procedure,” he said
Mr Ntalasha revealed that Nkana Water and Sewerage Company swung into action last week and disconnected water supply to the institution for unsettled bills and Kwacha Member of Parliament negotiated on behalf of the institution.
He said 21 CBU union executives and unioniSed members of staff are getting half salaries after being suspended for attending a union meeting in January when the unions passed a vote of no confidence in university vice chancellor.
Mr Ntalasha has therefore appealed to the Ministry of Higher Education to quickly act before government starts sorting out other problems that are now being created by Prof. Ngoma.