Student Meal Allowance Scrap Off Proposal Stirs Debate

Press Statement

For Immediate Release

Monday, 24 December 2018

ON GOVERNMENT ABOLISHING MEAL ALLOWANCES

The Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) has noted the growing anxiety among students from  Copperbelt University and University of Zambia on the news reported in today’s edition of News Diggers about Government abolishing meal allowances. We call for calm among students as ZANASU and various student unions have opened a fruitful dialogue with the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board (HELSB) over student loans and grants.

While we do not doubt the thoroughness of our media colleagues in doing in conducting responsible journalism, ZANASU cannot confirm the authenticity of the news attributed to Minister of Higher Education, Honourable Professor Nkandu Luo. We are not aware of any regulations or statutory instrument that could have been issued to abolish the provision of meal allowances. The fact that no regulation or statutory instrument has been issued on the abolishment of meal allowances, as yet, the report must not raise any unnecessary anxiety among students.

We also believe delays by government to meet its obligations in paying allowances which are part of the students’ loan and grant agreement must not become an excuse for students to cause unrest or damage to public property in and outside institutions of higher learning. Students must always prioritise the pursuit of dialogue with authorities before anything else.

ZANASU remains committed to engaging with Government, through the Head of State, Ministry of Higher Education and other relevant authorities to resolve matters affecting students and we encourage students to get updates from their Union representative, where such Unions exist. The dialogue which President Lungu had asked HELSB and students to engage in has commenced and students will be updated on progress.

Once again, we want to assure government that students appreciate the funding government provides to students in form of grants and loans, but government must always seek to pursue dialogue on any proposed changes in the grants and loan structure to avoid being misunderstood

Issued

Misheck Kakonde

President

Zambia National Students Union