By JAMES KUNDA –

HIGHER Education Minister Michael Kaingu has warned University of Zambia (UNZA) students, on the Government bursary scheme, to refrain from perpetrating anarchy or risk losing the benefit and places at the institution.
Dr Kaingu warned that Government can withdraw the bursary scheme for the students if they continue to disrupt the flow of the institution’s academic and administrative life.
UNZA students on the bursary scheme this week protested, demanding an increment of their meal allowances from the current K22.50 per day to K35.
Dr Kaingu said  University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) had not made a formal request to the Ministry over the matter.
He said this when he presented a ministerial statement to Parliament on the protests by the students barely a few days after the beginning of the 2015/2016 academic year.
Dr Kaingu said the Ministry only heard of the demands of the students through the riotous behaviour and public utterances by representatives of the students’ union.
“This type of behaviour is unacceptable in modern society and is particularly repugnant in a higher educational institution. I wish to appeal to the UNZA Students Union and their  members to stop all acts of public disorder in their efforts to attract my attention,” he said.
Dr Kaingu said UNZA had structures such as the offices of the Dean of Students, the deputy Vice-Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor, through which dialogue over the matter could be held.
The House also heard that Government had declared the water shortage in some parts of the country, a national disaster.
Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Nicholas Banda said his Ministry had since engaged the office of the Vice-President to mitigate the effects of erratic water supply in the affected areas.
Mr Banda was responding to MMD Mkaika Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Phiri, who asked whether Government was aware of the acute water crisis in his constituency and what plans were being implemented to resolve the problem.