Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has called on University of Zambia (UNZA) Management to immediately reinstate the 7 students who have been expelled for taking part in a riot and give them chance to complete their tertiary education.
Organization Executive Director George Hamusunga told Money FM News that ZANEC is saddened by the decision to expel the students believed to have incited their colleagues to riot over the institution’s move to bar those who had not paid their fees in full from writing examinations on 17th November, 2020.
Mr. Hamusunga however stated that the organization does not support riotous behavior by students but support academic freedoms that are anchored on mutual respect and dialogue between students and university management.
He said expelling students should always be the last resort and not the primary punishment, adding that Management’s action is against the Organization’s belief of not leaving anyone behind in the delivery of tertiary education as espoused in the 7th National Development Plan.
“We would like to sincerely appeal to UNZA Management to withdraw its harsh decision and give all the students the chance to complete their tertiary education. As ZANEC we do not support riotous behavior by students.”
“As a research institution endowed with a lot of research knowledge, UNZA knows very well that expelling students is not a remedy to the riotous behavior of students at the institution. We are however, concerned that UNZA management is averse to dialogue and usually prefers taking punitive measures against students even on matters that can be resolved around the table,” Mr. Hamusunga said.
Mr. Hamusunga observed that in light of the negative economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, most parents are struggling to raise money to pay fees for their children because most employees have lost job, hence UNZA’s decision to stop students from writing exams because they had not paid exam fees in full was very harsh and unfair.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hamusunga has reaffirmed calls for the Disaster Management Unit (DMMU) to release a bailout package for all University students who have failed to pay their fees as was done to musicians.
Last week, University of Zambia (UNZA) expelled seven of the nine students, who were suspended for taking part in a riot over management’s decision not to allow students with outstanding fees to write examinations.

University Acting Head of Communication and Marketing Marjorie Nkamba disclosed that this follows investigations and disciplinary hearing of the matter against the said students, pursuant to the students’ general rules and regulations.