The University of Zambia(UNZA) Guild Constitution Draft Chairperson Jonathan Phiri has warned all candidates in the forth coming elections to desist from early campaigns.
He said this in a meeting held at Unza great east road campus at the university main chapel where all the aspiring gathered to be addressed.
Mr. Phiri said the dean of students and the guild constitution draft committee are saddened with reports that some individuals aspiring to contest in the forthcoming elections have started campaigning before the stipulated time.
He told the Lusaka Star that other candidates have gone as far as going door to door campaigning and sticking posters around the institution which is ilegal.
Meanwhile Mr. Phiri added that the draft constitution is still open and people are still bringing in suggestions on what should and should not be in the constitution.
“If this continues history will repeat itself of not having a student union as it might result in the ban of the union for yet another year,”said Mr.Phiri
The student leader further explained that his committee and the dean have come up with ways of punishing all the culprits of this illegality and hence the meeting to inform the candidates of the measures to be taken.
In response to the chairperson’s speech, Hamatan one of the contestants said the reason why most candidates were campaigning was because the school had stayed for too long without a student union.
Another, Unzasu hopeful Antonate Sakala also present at the meeting suggested that all the candidates should stop campaigning and delete all WhatsApp campaign groups so as to have a level playing field for all the candidates.
However, Mr. Sakala’s suggestion sparked a lot of debate because other candidates had set various Whatasapp groups hoping the dean of students will not take action against them.
The Chairperson has since directed all aspirants to change the whatsapp group names and stop all forms of campaigns adding that instead of campaigning, they should redirect their energy to sensitising other students about the guild constitution.