By 
University of Zambia (UNZA) students staged a protest along Great East Road on Wednesday evening following the death of a first-year student who was hit by a minibus.
The protest stretched from the UNZA main gate to the eastern side of the Arcades Flyover Bridge, with students burning tyres near and under the footbridge close to the bus stop.
According to police, the incident that triggered the unrest occurred on Wednesday, March 19, between 18:00 and 19:30 hours when Mutanuka Situmbeko, aged between 18 and 21, was struck by a minibus while crossing the road to her boarding house.
She was rushed to Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Upon learning of her passing, fellow students gathered in large numbers and took to the streets in protest.
Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, said officers swiftly responded and engaged the students through their union representatives.
“After discussions, the students were peacefully escorted back to campus through the main entrance,” Hamoonga said in a statement on Thursday.
Once the students had dispersed, police cleared the road, removed debris, and called the fire brigade to extinguish the flames. Traffic flow was restored, and officers continued monitoring the situation overnight.
“While calm has returned to the area, the situation remains under close observation,” Hamoonga added.
He urged students and the public to maintain peace and allow the legal process to take its course.
“The Zambia Police Service extends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased student during this difficult time,” he said.
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