Africa-Press – Zambia. Copperbelt University (CBU) acting Vice Chancellor, Paul Chisale, has counseled students at the institution to responsibly use their meal allowances. Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe, Professor Chisale said the reinstated meal allowances should be used to improve the well being of the students for them to concentrate on education. He said students should not use the allowances to stir riots when they delay to receive them in future.
“The reinstatement of meal allowances by the government is a welcome move because it takes away the worry of where a student will find a meal, let alone a decent meal. If their meals are secured, then they are able to concentrate on studies and so that anxiety which normally spills into disturbing their academic calendars will no longer be there because they will no longer go to Jambo Drive to protest against meal allowances,” he said.
Prof. Chisale said the students should remain focused and take responsibility for the money they receive, stating that spending the money on beer will not help them in any way. He further urged the students to remain calm in future even when allowances are paid late as there are can be challenges in every system.
“It pays to stay calm in the midst of some challenges, in every system there are challenges but overally, I do not expect students to start rioting over meal allowances because the money has not reflected in their accounts,” he said.
Prof. Chisale however noted that the UPND government has so far not faltered in fulfilling its promises, but noted that some few things may go wrong in the process of processing the money, but students should not agitate confusion.
He further urged the students to use rightful channels to air their grievances if aggrieved, unlike resorting to rioting. And some students talked to by ZANIS thanked the government for releasing the meal allowances as promised.
Hempel Matongo, a student in the School of Engineering, confirmed receiving the money in his account. Mr. Matongo said he has already used part of the money to buy food.
“We would like to thank President Hakainde Hichilema for reinstating the meal allowance. We will now be able to concentrate in class because we are able to buy food, we can also use the money to attend to other needs that support our studies and wellbeing,” he said.
The students loans board has credited the accounts of students under its sponsorship with meal allowances as promised by the government last year. Under the Patriotic Front (PF) regime, the government abolished the meal allowance saying it contributed to the rampant student riots that the public universities used to experience.
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