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Zambian students end protests
15/06/2007 12:45 - (SA)
Lusaka - Students at Zambia's biggest university ended three days of at times violent protests on Friday after striking lecturers struck a pay agreement with the government and resumed classes.
The students from Lusaka's University of Zambia smashed car windows, trashed property and caused the closure of major highways during the protests which began when their lecturers went on strike at the start of the week.
"We are happy now that classes will resume. Students wanted to learn and that is why they staged demonstrations," said students' union leader Sage Samuwika.
The main lecturers' union confirmed members had decided to resume teaching after receiving pledges from the government that their salaries would be hiked, without giving further details.
"We have called off the go-slow after our members were promised better salaries," said Fenson Mwape, general secretary of the lecturers and researchers union.
Riot police who had been stationed outside the university have now been removed and normal traffic flow has resumed.
Last year, a similar strike by lecturers caused students to torch several dozen vehicles before the government closed the university in order to protect public property.
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