Scrapping off meal allowance is illegal, says Ex-UNZASU president
Antonio Mwanza
Former University of Zambia Students Union president Antonio Mwanza has charged that the decision to stop paying meal allowances to Students at the two public University is illegal and counterproductive.
Mwanza who is now opposition FDD Spokesperson says meal allowance is a legal entitlement for all students on Government Sponsorship, adding that it cannot just be scrapped off with a spasm of unguided and irrational emotions by Minister of Education Michael Kaingu.
Kaingu on Wednesday told Parliament that government had scrapped off the meal allowances at UNZA and CBU.
Mwanza said:
The decision by the PF Government to arbitrary ABOLISH Meal Allowances for students who are on Government Bursary at UNZA and CBU is ILLEGAL, IRRESPONSIBLE, UNJUSTIFIABLE and COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
The Meal Allowance is a legal entitlement for all students on Government Sponsorship, thus it cannot just be scrapped off with a spasm of unguided and irrational emotions by one Michael Kaingu. As a component of the binding contract of government sponsorship for students on bursary, it cannot be scrapped off singularly, unilaterally and arbitrary.
The PF Government must understand and appreciate the fact that the Meal Allowance was introduced to cover up the cost of meals that the two Universities were directly providing to the students.
Instead of paying students their meal allowances and resolve the crisis at the two Universities, the Paya Future Government has created yet another problem. This action is a recipe for conflict and student unrest.
We demand for the immediate reversal of this reckless decision. Let students be paid their meal allowances and be allowed to learn in peace. The money for meal allowances was already budgeted for in the National Budget.
We equally demand for the immediate payment of February salaries for all the lecturers at UNZA.
This Paya Future Government should stop playing SOJO with the lives of our students and for once be serious. Education is a right and not a privilege for children of Ministers.
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