‘UNZA boycotts may trigger students unrest’

THE boybott by unionized workers at the UNIVERSITY of Zambia (UNZA) will trigger students’ unrest, vice chancellor Luke Mumba has warned.

Prof Mumba pleaded with the workers to call off their work stoppage.

This follows the decision by unionised workers at UNZA Great East Road campus in Lusaka to down tools demanding for February salary arrears.

UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba said that Government had assured to release money to the university by Friday.

Proffessor Mumba warned that the decision by university workers not to report for work until salaries were paid could create unnecessary confusion among students.

“Students will become uneasy once the lecturers are not showing up for classes. The absence of lecturers might make students react. This is what we must avoid, especially that Government has assured us that the money will be made available by Friday,” he said. Prof Mumba pleaded with the unionised workers to call off their work stoppage and exercise a little bit of patience.

He expressed confidence that Government would make available the grant as promised, acknowledging that life must be tough for the workers without their pay.

Prof Mumba explained that he tried to negotiate with the aggrieved workers but that they decided to carry on with their work stoppage.

Meanwhile, lecturers and other workers at the Copperbelt University in Kitwe also staged a work stoppage over the non-payment of their February salaries.

In Lusaka, University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union General Secretary Kelvin Mambwe said this was not the first time that Government had delayed paying workers’ salaries.

Mr Mambwe accused the government of not telling the nation the truth why workers were not getting paid on time.