More UNZA students arrested

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KYENGULA STEVEN - UNZASU
POLICE on Saturday arrested 24 University of Zambia (UNZA) students.

The students who took to the streets were arrested for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The 24 were arrested in a space of two days after 13 others were arrested on Thursday for idle and disorderly conduct.

The students rioted and blocked the Great East Road while chanting slogans but police were on hand to calm the situation.

University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) president Steven Kyengula said the students were demanding the release of Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Macdonald Chipenzi, the draft Constitution, the reinstatement of fired nurses and an increment in their meal allowance.

Mr Kyengula said the 24 students who were arrested on Saturday were offering solidarity to the 13 students who had been arrested earlier.

Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda, who confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, said out of the 24 students that were arrested on Saturday, 18 had been released after they paid admission of guilt fine.

Ms Chanda said six students were still in detention at Lusaka Central Police but would be released once they too paid the fine.

She further explained that the 13 who were earlier arrested and charged with idle and disorderly conduct, have since been released on police bond and would appear in court today.

“Yes we arrested 24 more students yesterday for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace but 18 have paid the admission of guilt fine and have been released. The remaining six are still in detention but they will be released once they pay. They will not appear in court,” Ms Chanda said.

Mr Kyengula said the union was not initially aware of the riot by the students but after investigations, it was discovered that they were demanding many things.

He said the union had been in talks with the police and it was happy that most of the students had been released and that there were indications that the remaining six would be released by close of business yesterday.

Times of Zambia

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