NKOMBO KACHEMBA, Kitwe
FIRST Lady Esther Lungu has visited the Copperbelt University (CBU) and expressed concern over the continued closure of higher learning institutions and how this is disrupting the academic calendar.
Mrs Lungu said it is important to ensure that peace prevails in higher learning institutions for students to complete their studies within the scheduled time.
“If we keep on closing these institutions, then the programmes which we have will be disturbed and our children will not complete their studies on time,” she said.
Mrs Lungu was speaking in Kitwe yesterday when she paid a courtesy call on CBU vice-chancellor Naison Ngoma at his office.
She said as a mother of the nation, she is interested in ensuring that students in higher learning institutions get good quality education.
Mrs Lungu said she will also endeavour to mentor the students in these institutions to ensure that peace prevails on campuses to allow for smooth running of the academic calendar.
The First Lady also urged politicians not to use students for selfish gains but to leave them alone so that they concentrate on their studies.
Mrs Lungu assured Professor Ngoma that as a mother, she will visit the university when it re-opens to have a motherly talk with the students.
Prof Ngoma said the university was forced to close prematurely because of the unruly behaviour of the students.
“We miss our students, but we were forced to close because of the high levels of indiscipline. It reached an extent of students fighting with police officers,” he said.
The CBU and University of Zambia in Lusaka were closed indefinitely last month following violent protests by students over partial payment of meal allowances.