UNZASU has dismissed rumours that the contractor chosen to rehabilitate the lecture theatre is not qualified. The University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) has dismissed allegations that it has misappropriated funds meant for the rehabilitation of lecture theatres at the institution.
Speaking in an interview with the Lusaka star, UNZASU president Steven Kyengula said the union only contributed half of the actual budget as agreed at the inception of the project.
He explained that management agreed to contribute the other half of the budget to rehabilitate Lecture Theatre 1 (LT1) and Lecture Theatre 2 (LT2) which has since commenced.
Mr Kyengula said the union pushed management to release the money students pay as maintenance fee so that they can fund the project.
However, a second year student at the institution, Clement Chazanga explained that students were not happy with the union for stealing money meant for the rehabilitation of the two lecture theatres.
Chazanga claimed that students were eager to find out why the president’s closest friend was awarded the contract alleging that the contactor had being paid more than 10percent of the principle amount contrary to the procurement act of 2008.
He said students had gathered facts regarding the procedures used and why the Secretary General travelled to Thailand with the keys to his office which was used by other union members.
But UNZASU dismissed rumours that the contractor chosen to rehabilitate the lecture theatres was not qualified.
Mr Kyengula said the union should not be held accountable for awarding the contractor in charge of the rehabilitation process because the contractor was hired by management.
And UNZASU Publicity Secretary who is acting Secretary General, Helen Zulu said students must show evidence of UNZASU misappropriating funds meant for the rehabilitation of the two lecture theatres at the institution.
She said the union was ready to present the public with all documents involving the contract awarded to Gida contractors which included the amount to be paid to the contractor and how the money was obtained.
Miss Zulu urged anyone spearheading the spreading of information regarding the costs of rehabilitating LT1 and LT2 to present concrete evidence to support the allegations.
She added that at the moment UNZASU would treat the allegations as a rumour.
The rehabilitation of LT1 and LT2 was pegged at k426, 000 which has since proven not to be enough.