By JAMES KUNDA –
GOVERNMENT has given the Copperbelt University (CBU) academics union up to Friday this week to call off their strike and resume work or risk losing their jobs without benefits.
Meanwhile, CBU vice-chancellor Naison Ngoma has been reinstated after serving more than two months on suspension pending investigations into his alleged mismanagement of the institution.

. Kaingu

Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu said the current go-slow by the CBU academics union was illegal and dismissible.
Dr Kaingu said this in a ministerial statement to appraise the House with the current on-goings at the country’s second highest institution of learning.
“Withdrawal of labour as a weapon to fight for demands hurts all, but helps none and students, in particular, should not be used as pawns to enforce demands.
“All members of the academic staff, who had decided to withdraw their services, are requested to end this illegal action and return to work without delay,” Dr Kaingu said.
Dr Kaingu said the CBU caretaker committee, which he appointed to perform the functions of the University Council and investigate allegations of mismanagement against Professor Ngoma, found him not guilty.
The investigations were instituted after the CBU academics union wrote to Dr Kaingu alleging that Professor Ngoma and the entire management should be dismissed.
“The report of the caretaker committee has found neither evidence nor merit in the allegations made by the CBU academics union.
“In view of these findings, I wish to inform this August House that we have decided that Professor Ngoma reports for duty with immediate effect and the current management of CBU remains unchanged,” he said.
Dr Kaingu called for cohesion in the management of the institution, while urging the students to remain calm as concerned parties pursue normal operations at the university.
The House also heard that K23 million had been paid out to more than 40,000 people who were clients of the defunct Meridien BIAO bank Zambia.
Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga said the money was paid through Zanaco, Standard Chartered and Finance banks, which Government engaged as its agents.
Mr Mvunga was responding to Gwembe UPND Member of Parliament (MP) Brian Ntundu who wanted to know how much money had been paid to the depositors of the liquidated bank so far.
He said the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) held K1.7 million on behalf of the bank at the time of liquidation in the 1990’s.