A female student at the University of Zambia main Campus has died due to suffocation following a riot that was staged by students.
The rioting students blocked Great East Road and destroyed a number of booths within the area.
And Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says officers from Lusaka Division rushed to calm the situation but due to the volatile situation, reinforcement was sought from Paramilitary Battalion and officers managed to restore order at about 01:00 hours.
Ms Katongo explains that as officers were keeping vigil around the campus, information was received that parts of October Hostel was on fire and that a fourth year female student in the School of Education and another who is a second year student aged 20 years had suffocated and were rushed to the clinic at the Campus and later to Levy Mwanawasa Hospital.
She says unfortunately the fourth year student died while the other student is still admitted.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be established. Police officers have continued patrolling the campus and keeping vigil,” she said.
Ms Katongo states that the situation is currently normal.