UNZA STUDENTS MUST STOP THE PUBLIC NUISANCE

THE recent looting of shops and stoning of motor vehicles by the University of Zambia (UNZA) students to protest against the cancellation of their union’s elections is an indication of how low students in our institutions sink at times by refusing to use their brains for thinking.

It is unacceptable for students to stone motorists and disturb the public who, through their taxes, pay for their upkeep.

We expect students to pursue education so that they are well educated, and become law abiding citizens, and to become great assets to the nation and the world at large.

However, it is regrettable that most students, especially from higher learning institutions in Zambia deviate from this goal and aim of education and resort to vandalism and negative attitudes of peer pressure.

On Monday night, September 18, several students from the country’s highest learning institution are reported to have run amok, breaking into shops, looting from them and stoning vehicles that were passing in Great East Road.

According to the Zambia Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, 10 people have so far been apprehended in connection with the riots that occurred at the UNZA main campus.

Mr Hamoonga confirmed that more than 500 students rioted over the cancellation of the 2023 UNZA students’ union elections due to financial challenges. He says the students blocked Great East road with drums, stones, burnt tyres and started stoning motor vehicles.

The Police spokesperson further says five shops were broken into and assorted groceries whose value is yet to be established were looted within the university during the riots.

He however disclosed that police officers have been deployed around the campus and that they were monitoring the situation, adding that Investigations into the matter were still ongoing.

This report really makes sad reading, especially that the students were angered by the cancellation of their own union elections, which is an internal matter. It had nothing to do with the Government or the university management.

These interminable cultures of lawlessness and anarchy in the form of riots by students have become a source of concern because they do not only destroy properties, but also threaten peace and stability in the country.

In this era, reports of students misbehaving and causing damage to properties of the schools and that of innocent individuals is not welcoming news.

It is wrong for UNZA students to deviate from the sole purpose of learning and engage in misconduct that affects the learning environment for innocent students.

Such behaviour does not only affect the academic performance of students but also destroys the moral fibre of the country.

Students should find other meaningful ways of addressing issues. Why do they resort to rioting and destruction of property to make their voices heard? Such a habit applied only to the laws of the jungle.

Why distress innocent citizens by inflicting a cost on them of repairing their damaged vehicles or seeking medical attention, and yet they fund the being some students at the university through paying various taxes to the Government?

It is wrong and unacceptable for the students to destroy innocent people’s property over matters that are internal and could have been resolved amicably within themselves.

They should have directed their grievances to the appropriate authorities (the institution management or their unions) so that a solution to their problems was found.

In fact, as intellectuals, when students are faced with challenges they should seek dialogue with management and the Government as opposed to rioting and demonstrations which also affect them.

Rioting does not solve anything but instead disadvantages students. When universities are closed as a result of riotous behaviour it is them who face setbacks such as expulsions, suspensions, poor performance and delayed graduations.

It is also important to note that by resorting to violence, these students, who are looking forward to joining the workplace, usually send a bad message to their would-be employers.

Which organisation would want an employee who uses commotion and violence in the workplace as a way of solving disputes?

We expect students to be ambassadors of peace, unity and stability, because without such virtues there would be no meaningful development.

We are really in pain to note that the students who are supposed to be future national leaders are resorting to riotous behaviour instead of seeking dialogue with their unions’ leaders.

The journey to national leadership begins at university, hence the need for students to be responsible.

It is high time that such behaviour was stopped by ensuring that all those found wanting are dealt with severely according to the law.

There is a need for stiffer punishment on riotous students in order to bring sanity at higher learning institutions.

Therefore, to promote discipline, peace and stability in learning institutions, these ‘thugs’ disguising themselves as students must not only be arrested but be expelled.

We, therefore, commend the Zambian Police for having swiftly moved in and arrested people in connection to the riotous behaviour which led to destruction of private and public property.

Besides that, the university should make sure that these students upon returning to the institution should be made to pay for the damage they caused to the public and university.

As indicated in the law of the land, intentionally and unlawfully causing damage to another person’s property, stealing, and causing harm, among others are criminal offences, whether committed by students or on higher education campuses.

The violent and destructive behaviour of students are criminal and punishable by law.

Students committing various crimes on campuses, ranging from dealing in narcotic drugs, internet intrusions, fraud, stealing, causing unlawful damage, causing harm, assaults, sexual offenses, and others must be arrested, investigated, prosecuted, and punished.

The recurring and repetitive conduct of violent and destructive acts of students might be because such persons were not made to answer for their crimes.

When students were not punished for their criminal acts, it allowed other students to engage in similar crimes.

After all, regulations and punishments are what build decent, and disciplined societies.  Punishment helps in corrections and as a deterrent to build the individual.

Students’ inclination to criminal conduct in the form of riot develops when it is not dealt with immediately.

If students can agree together among themselves for any violent, destructive or criminal behaviour, it suggests that such persons after school are capable of committing any major crime against the State.