PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has announced an increase in student accommodation allowance to K5,850 with immediate effect.
President Hichilema has urged UNZA students not to be “cheated” by NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and his running mate Makebi Zulu, saying they scrapped meal allowances yet now claim they will increase accommodation allowances.
Speaking when he met UNZA students at State House, Saturday, President Hakainde Hichilema reaffirmed his commitment to continue building hostels to expand student accommodation.
“Next issue, I have a commitment to you that we’ll continue building the hostels and we’ll be taking them block by block, section by section so that we can accommodate more of you monks and mommers, but please watch the imports you bring in campus. We’ll continue the hostels which were stalled the whole time [since] 2013, the same boys who are saying they will come back, why didn’t they complete the hostels? Why did they [remove] meal allowances? They are telling you that they will improve your accommodation allowance, we see them. Having listened to my fellow monks and mommers and to their student leaders, I Hakainde Hichilema, Bally has made a decision that accommodation allowances be increased. Some people are deaf in case, Permanent Secretaries at Ministry of Education did hear me right, I’m saying I Hakainde Hichilema is doing something for my friends to increase the accommodation allowance to K5,850,” President Hichilema said.
“Let me put the operational definition and meaning of this, it means from K3,000 something, it will now go to K5,850. This is with immediate effect, so do you want these good things to continue? Then on August 13 vote for “kwenyu” and “salt sana”. I’m appointing all of you my fellow monks and mommers as Bally’s campaign managers and go door-to-door and campaign, then you vote suit”.
President Hichilema appealed to UNZA students to exercise responsibility in maintaining campus facilities.
“As General Maliti Solochi articulated, I did command as Commander-in-Chief of all the armed forces in this country. I decided not to negotiate, I did not want a civilian doing that job like Lusaka Water, so I decided I bring in those who are under my armed, the command you conferred by voting for me and candidates in 2021. So, I’m using that command to benefit my friends, the young people, you the students and indeed the parents indirectly because when the students are happy, mothers and fathers are happy. So, I’m happy that we’ve made progress there on the water and sanitation, all I can say to you is please look after that asset, don’t throw solid matter in the sewage system, you are going to block it. Solid matter must be disposed elsewhere, liquid matter in the sewer system, one of the things that your friend Bally values is responsibility, so I want you to be responsible and I know you responsible,” said President Hichilema.
“Exercise your responsibility, please you see your neighbour doing things like that; remind them politely, aikona man. There is what called individual responsibility but also collective responsibility, so we are each other’s keeper. Is that asking for too much, you’ll take care of UNZA? You’ll take care of the sewer system? You’ll no throw solid matter in there? Look after the showers, taps; the UNZA management is not here but we want to get rid of all those rubber tires there, they clog the system. You can’t run a country without data, I have heard those two boys when Bally talks of CDF K40 million, they are saying ‘also us’ when Bally says free education, they will say ‘also us’. They were in government for 10 years, why didn’t they introduce free education? Don’t be lied to. So, don’t be cheated by the very people that destroyed the country’s economy, those who borrowed money and pocketed”.
