By HOPE BWALYA –
THE University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) has welcomed the decision by Government to enact a Student Loan Bill that will replace the bursary scheme.
UNZASU president Jones Mwewa said the student Loan Bill if enacted would be beneficial as it would reduce dependence on public financing and ensure that the right people were targeted.
Mr Mwewa who was speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday appealed to Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the running of the loans to avoid the current situation.
“The Student Loan Bill will be beneficial to the students, especially if it comes with its own incentives to ensure accountability and transparency,” he said.
He appealed to Government to study the faults of the bursary scheme so as to avoid history repeating itself.
On Tuesday, Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu said preparations to present the Student Loan Bill had reached an advanced stage and would be presented to the house before it adjourns.
The student loans scheme which would replace the current bursary scheme was aimed at preventing beneficiaries from engaging in violent behaviour.
Recently Government closed UNZA and the Copperbelt University (CBU) indefinitely because of the students’ violent behaviour which was sparked by issues of payment of meal allowances.
