Stop it, ‘disrespectful’ UNZA lecturers told

WE appeal to lecturers at the University of Zambia (UNZA) to be sober and demonstrate high levels of respect even in times of airing out grievances over unpaid salaries, the ruling PF has said.

Speaking to the Daily Nation yesterday, Lusaka Province secretary Kennedy Kamba said the party in Lusaka was concerned because of the systematic unbecoming behaviour of doing politics at the institution.

Mr. Kamba said the party was boggled that lecturers would go to the extent of insulting the government and the First Family of President Edgar Lungu.

“Certainly, no one wouldn’t want to go home without being paid after working, but in an event that challenges present themselves, people must sit down with authorities and engage in progressive dialogue and find ways of securing the wages within the shortest possible time.

“We agree and respect the fact that the lecturers have families to feed and they are Zambians with a right to air out their grievances. What we are not pleased about is their antagonistic approach and innuendos, literally insulting the first family and the government,” Mr. Kamba said.

He said the lecturers, who are highly regarded as intellectuals, must be sober and rational in sorting out issues that affect them.

“We watched with sadness how the First Lady on the Republic of Zambia was mocked through unwarranted mimics that promote nothing but hate. The lecturers must be in a position to demonstrate maturity, sobriety and respect.

“The UNZA issues as we speak are adequately receiving attention from management and the government. It is, therefore, very unacceptable to begin to insult the government, the First Lady and all,” he said.

Mr Kamba said Zambia could not manage to turn UNZA into a political battlefield because of a few selfish politicians within the lecturers’ union who belonged to the opposition and were trying by whatever means to use their influence and promote hate.

“The other time, they were calling all those who support and voted for the PF government as fools. Certainly, this is not what this country needs.

“We appeal to UNZA lecturers and their union leaders to stop this hate they are propagating. We demand for sobriety, respect for all from the lecturers,” he said.