STUDENT UNION LEADER BANNED OVER PROTESTS

UNIVERSITY of Zambia Student Board of Discipline has suspended Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) president Misheck Kakonde for the 2017/2018 academic year on allegations that he masterminded protests by students that took place on Occtober 4, 2018. This has been confirmed in a letter addressed to Mr Kakonde dated October 31, 2018 from the acting Dean of Students, Ms Grace Tembo. The Board of Discipline had stated that it had found Mr. Kakonde guilty based on his public apology aired by Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) on September 11, 2018 which was made by him on the said demonstration. And Mr. Kakonde said that on September 19, 2018, he appeared before the Disciplinary Committee and re-stated that he did not mastermind the demonstration. “By the letter addressed to me dated 31st October, 2018 from the acting Dean of Students, Grace Tembo, I now confirm that the University Of Zambia Student Board Of Discipline has suspended me for the 2017/2018 academic year and that I will return to the university in 2018/2019 academic year,” Mr. Kakonde said. He said the suspension was based on allegations that some students and himself had masterminded protests by students that took place on June 9, 2018. Mr. Kakonde said from June 12, 2018 to September 11, 2018, the committee had been fishing for evidence of his engagement in those protests. “They kept us in suspense until we decided to carry the burden of students who protested by making an apology so as to have this matter put behind us,” he said. Mr. Kakonde said he had no immediate intention to appeal against the suspension but he would seek audience with the Vice Chancellor over the decision by the Board to take away the credits earned in the 2017/18 academic year. “Going forward, I appeal to all students to always remain calm and focus on their studies as we serve this suspension. “I also make this solemn call to students to always pursue dialogue or peaceful demonstrations that do not involve any violence or damage to public property whenever they intend to air their grievances,” Mr. Kakonde said.