Zambia shuts varsity amid riots

2007-07-24 17:45

Lusaka - Authorities in Zambia have indefinitely closed the country's second largest university after riots by students who were protesting a protracted strike by their lecturers.

The Copperbelt University (CBU) was closed on Monday night with immediate effect in order to protect lives and property after more than a week of unrest on campus, said CBU Registrar Allan Ilunga.

"The activities at the institution that have extended during the last 10 days have created an inconducive environment for academic activities putting lives and property at risk," Illunga said.

Riot squad officers used teargas on Monday to disperse students who had stoned police and wrecked property during a protest against a strike by their lecturers who are demanding better wages.

Series of violent demonstrations

President Levy Mwanawasa said the student riots and strike were instigated by the opposition in order to cause chaos in the country.

"Most strikes are politically instigated by politicians with a motive to cause tension and weaken the government. That is irresponsibility of the highest order," the Zambia Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

"They go to the university and use students to destroy infrastructure," Mwanawasa said in reference to the protests at CBU, situated in Kitwe, about 400km north of Lusaka.

Zambia's two state-run universities have been dogged by a series of violent demonstrations and strikes by lecturers this year.

- AFP