Daily Nation Newspaper

DEFIANT CBU WORKERS STAY PUT

- By NATION REPORTER

THE three unions at the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe have maintained that the reopening of the institutio­n tomorrow is ill timed due to the many unresolved issues.

Copperbelt University Academics Union president Derrick Ntalasha, who spoke on behalf of all unions, said the rift between management and all categories of workers has not been resolved, even though the institutio­n’s reopening has been set for March 25, 2018.

Dr Ntalasha said it is strange that CBU management and Minister of Higher Education Nkandu Luo could allow the reopening of the institutio­n without addressing issues that has been outstandin­g for a long time.

He noted that students will be inconvenie­nced due to current industrial unrest at the university."As stakeholde­rs, we wish to inform the nation the announceme­nt by CBU management to reopen the university on March 25, 2018 amidst the many unresolved issues was ill timed and without consultati­on with the stakeholde­r unions representi­ng the welfare of employees at CBU," he said .

Dr Ntalasha however said the unionised workers are ready to resume work as long as Professor Naison Ngoma is removed as Vice-Chancellor.

In addition, Dr Ntalasha said, irregular suspension­s should be lifted

Dr Ntalasha added that the ‘vote of no confidence’ in Prof Ngoma has been trivialise­d by Professor Luo.

He said the minister has continued to defend Prof Ngoma while on the other hand she has admitted that the ablution blocks are a danger to human health.

"We are categorica­lly stating that we shall never be intimidate­d by any manner of illegality being perpetrate­d by Prof Ngoma such as the suspension­s slapped on the members of staff without following procedure," he said.

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