Luo refuses to address meal allowance question

Nkandu Luo

Higher Education Minister Nkandu Luo says she has not issued any official statement on the abolishment of meal allowances for students at higher institutions of learning.

Prof. Luo has however refused to seize the opportunity to clearly state whether or not serious plans to scrap off meal allowances exist, saying she is on leave and must be left to enjoy her Christmas.

She recently told an unnamed University of Zambia student in a phone conversation that government will scrap off meal allowances, claiming they are a source of unrest at the country’s public universities.

“Starting January, we will not be paying any pocket money allowances. We will only pay for your tuition, we will pay for project, we will pay for your accommodation. I think this allowance thing is going to drive us crazy. That way, we can even support more students,” Prof. Luo is heard saying in a recorded phone conversation.

But when contacted, the minister told Diamond News that she will not be forced to respond to what she has described as social media reports because government has a formal way of disseminating information.

She was however quick to mention that she will hold a press briefing if she has anything to say on the matter.

But some students at the University of Zambia have advised the minister not to handle or respond to student matters with emotions lest she is misunderstood.