UNZASU reject bunker beds

THE introduction of bunker beds in hostels will pose danger to students’ health and sanitary conditions, says University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) outgoing president Adrian Matole.

In an interview, Mr. Matole said such an idea should not be entertained.

He was reacting to Minister of Higher Education Professor Nkandu Luo’s recent remarks in Parliament that bunker beds should be used as a temporary measure to address accommodation challenges at the institution.

He said the beds would not be appropriate and would increase the number of students in the hostels.

Mr. Matole said currently each room was occupied by about six to eight students and the introduction of bunker beds would result in uncontrollable numbers.

He said UNZASU was pleased with UNZA management’s decision to allow students to continue sharing bed spaces at the highest learning institution and that the onus was now on the learners to uphold high degrees of hygiene.

He called on all students to ensure they maintained the sanitary infrastructure, which the institution had toiled to renovate over the past few months.

Mr Matole said students should take personal responsibility to take care of the infrastructure and ensure they took care of themselves to avoid disease outbreaks at UNZA.

“We are really grateful to government and management for allowing squatting to continue as measures to permanently address the accommodation crisis, but again I would like to urge my fellow students to ensure that they practice good hygiene as we do not want to have disease outbreaks,”Mr Matole said.