Reinstate Students Unions, ZANEC appeals to President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has been urged to re-instate Students’ Unions in order to ensure continued progressive dialogue in higher learning institutions such as Universities.

Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) Executive Director, George Hamusunga says the continued intolerance of divergent views by government and the banning of students’ unions by the Minister of Higher Education is the cause of problems at institutions of higher learning.

Mr. Hamusunga says the banning of students’ unions is a violation of academic freedoms in higher learning institutions.

He says this is because students are deprived of representation and therefore have no platform for dialogue on matters affecting them.

And Mr Hamusuna has told QTV news that there is need to design a deliberate professional development program for the police which will promote a human rights based approach in their handling of students at the higher learning institutions.