Oasis Cafeteria management are in talks with the Registrar’s Office over the possibility of using the Siwela Lecture Hall as part of the cafeteria. However, some students have rejected the proposed move by Oasis with the University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) calling it ‘immoral and unacceptable.’ PLANS by the Oasis Cafeteria stationed at the University of Zambia (UNZA) main campus to start using the Siwela Lecture Hall has been received with mixed feelings by the student populace.
Oasis Cafeteria management are in talks with the Registrar’s Office over the possibility of using the Siwela Lecture Hall as part of the cafeteria.
Some students spoken to by the Lusaka Star welcomed the move by Oasis management to expand their business premises explaining that the current space used by the cafeteria was not enough to cater for unaccommodated students.
A second year student in the school of Education, Mweengwe Shafwuluma said there was need to increase the capacity of the cafeteria as the majority of the students had their meals from the cafeteria.
“Almost half of UNZA’s student populace is not accommodated, thus the majority have their meals from the cafeteria…. To make matters worse, even those that are accommodated have their meals from here, so the space is just not enough,” he explained.
Another student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mambo Mumba noted that there was nothing wrong with expanding the cafeteria for as long as it did not affect the students’ education.
Mr. Mumba urged UNZA management to find alternative venues for lectures that took place from Siwela Lecture Hall if it were to be rented out to the Oasis Cafeteria.
However, some students have rejected the proposed move by Oasis with the University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) calling it ‘immoral and unacceptable.’
UNZASU business affairs secretary Gilgary Manda said the university cannot suffer at the expense of money.
“Siwela Hall is used for a lot of things and it will be immoral for anyone to give it to someone for the purpose of business,” he noted.
The Business Affairs Secretary added, “The proposed move by the Oasis Cafeteria is unacceptable. This move should not in any way be allowed to mature into reality as it will affect the quality of education UNZA has been known to offer.”
Mr. Manda further said the school had a lot of space which could be used for such activities and not Siwela Lecture Hall.
And a third year student in the School of Education, Mildred Chewe noted that the current space used by the cafeteria was big enough adding that there was no need of expanding it by renting Siwela Lecture Hall.
“I believe there is no need of using Siwela Lecture Hall as part of the Oasis Cafeteria. Moreover, the main purpose of the university is education and not eating. Education should not suffer at the expense of business, in this case education should not suffer at the expense of eating,” she noted.
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Lusaka Star, Oasis Cafeteria director Emmanuel Chileshe said the New Dinning Hall was not big enough to accommodate the increasing number of their customers.
“The place we are using is small and we have since applied to the registrar so that we can also start using the Siwela Hall… From the time we started doing business, the number of customers has continued to increase, therefore the need to increase our premises,
“We are currently in discussion with the registrar’s office on the possibilities of us using the Siwela Hall and so far the discussions are positive. We are only hoping for favourable consideration from the registrar,” he explained.
Oasis Cafeteria at UNZA’s Great East Road main campus has been in operation for a year at the New Dinning Hall which was renovated before the Zone Six Youth Games where UNZA was used as the games village from 2nd December, 2012 and 8th December, 2012.
The move by Oasis Cafeteria to use Siwela Lecture Hall is ‘Immoral and unacceptable’ – UNZASU
