Police in riot gear disperse CBU demonstration

Copperbelt University (CBU) students have called on government to re-open the learning institution immediately to avoid further disruption in the academic calendar.

The students who staged a protest at the BOMA Building which houses the office of the District Commissioner  demanded that government re-opens the institution immediately.

Police officers in riot gear were quickly deployed at the scene to disperse the protesting students.

This is the second time that the students are staging a protest to pressure government to re-open the institution which was prematurely closed last month.

And speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president Humphrey Mwenya appealed to government to quickly address the wrangle between the lecturers and management to ensure that the institution is re-opened.

Mr Mwenya urged government to take the education sector as one of its priorities as the trained labour force was cardinal to national development.

He also urged Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe to act as a link between the students and Presidents Edgar Lungu so that their problem can be solved.

Government last month closed the CBU following protests by the students sparked by the continued strike by the lecturers who are calling for the resignation of the University Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma and the entire management.