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Three University of Zambia (UNZA) Trade Unions have accused the government of interfering in the recruitment of the University ‘s Vice Chancellor and his Deputy Chancellors.
The three trade unions are the University of Zambia Lectures and Researchers’ Union (UNZALARU), the University of Zambia Professional Staff Union (UNZAPROSU) and the University of Zambia Allied Workers’ Union (UNZAWU).
UNZAPROSU president, Michael Kaluba, alleged that government through the caretaker committee is interfering with the process of appointing the top officials of UNZA using the same method that was denounced under the former regime of political consideration, ethnic, regional bias, nepotism among others.
Kaluba said that the caretaker committee in consultation with the Minister of Education, Douglas Syakalima, constituted a seven- member ad-hoc search to select the Vice Chancellor and two of his deputies pursuant to the Higher Education Act of 2014.
“We denounced the methods used in the selection of the senior management team of the University of Zambia which were mainly characterised by political considerations, ethnic-regional bias, nepotism, patronage and other processes devoid of credibility and excellence that the University of Zambia should be known for,” he said.
Kaluba has stated that the recruitment process lacks credibility, accountability and transparency as the caretaker committee wants to use the search committee to rubberstamp the selection of individuals who are believed to be politically connected as top officials of the University of Zambia.
“The University of Zambia has had no Vice Chancellor and Deputy vice chancellor for over a year now since the departure of the former Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Mumba and his Deputy Dr. Tamara Kambikambi,” Kaluba said.
Addressing Journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday on behalf of the other three trade unions, Kaluba further demanded that the tenure of the Caretaker Committee be allowed to end on April 2023 as any extension will be deemed as illegal.
Contributed by Augustine Sichula
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