DMMU to rehabilitate burnt UNZA hostel
Published On January 9, 2015 » 2009 Views» By Davies M.M Chanda » Latest News, Stories
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Luo

Luo

By SAM PHIRI –
THE Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will soon commence the rehabilitation of the hostel at the University of Zambia that was gutted during a riot by the students last year.
UNZA public relations officer Stanslous Chewe confirmed yesterday that the DMMU visited the institution to inspect the extent of damage of the hostel.
“Munali area member of Parliament Nkandu Luo was here to inspect the hostel that was gutted and confirmed that they will use part of the Constituency Development Fund to rehabilitate the hostel,” Mr Chewe said.
Mr Chewe said the challenge of accommodation shortage was worsened after the riots leaving only less than 50 per cent of students accommodated at the campus.
“The rehabilitation works are expected to commence in a few days’ time because this is an urgent matter,” he said.
Some students who were displaced due to the damage on the hostel were being temporarily accommodated at one of the UNZA buildings across the Great East Road while others were accommodated in Makeni by a well-wisher.
Meanwhile, Mr Chewe said apart from students’ accommodation, the campus was faced with numerous challenges that included shortage of office spaces, lecture rooms and library facilities.
A student’s hostel at the university was last year in November burnt as police officers fought running battles with the students to quell protests against delayed meal allowances.
Two rooms in the Soweto Hostel were completely burnt in the inferno, which started when officers’ allegedly fired a flare missile that landed on one of the beds in the rooms on the third floor of the building through the window.
A number of students were injured, some of them seriously, as they jumped from the third floor of the building through the window.

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