The Zambian government has pledged K23 million to immediately address the ongoing water and sanitation crisis at the University of Zambia (UNZA) following a second-year student’s death linked to the situation.
The intervention comes after a student reportedly drowned in an open manhole on Tuesday night, triggering protests by students demanding immediate action over deteriorating conditions on campus.
Students staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, gathering at the Vice Chancellor’s Lane before marching onto Great East Road under the guidance of the Zambia Police Service.
Speaking during the protest, University of Zambia Student Union (UNZASU) President Mwanto Kabaso expressed concern over the prolonged crisis, saying students could no longer tolerate the situation.
“Right now, we won’t wait for any address from the Vice Chancellor,” he said.
Kabaso stated that the student populace wanted the government to address them officially.
In response to the protests, Permanent Secretary for Educational Services, Dr. Kelvin Mambwe, reaffirmed that the government is putting measures in place to mitigate the crisis.
“We are going to provide mobile toilets and drinking water, apart from the bowsers, so that you are safe,” Dr. Mambwe said.
He added that the President was concerned about students’ welfare and was committed to ensuring such incidents do not recur.
He said,President Hichilema earlier directed key government ministries, in collaboration with the Zambia National Service, to urgently resolve sanitation challenges affecting public higher learning institutions.
The latest protest follows persistent water and sanitation problems at UNZA, which have previously raised safety concerns among students and staff.