UNZA dismisses media reports against the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Luke Evuta Mumba pertaining to gardnening employees under short term contracts

Dr. Brenda Bukowa

UNZA dismisses media reports against the Vice-Chancellor pertaining to gardnening employees under short term contracts

Wednesday 21st April, 2021 Press Statement

By Dr. Brenda Bukowa
A/Head – Communication and Marketing
Email: comm.marketing@unza.zm
The University of Zambia
Department of Communication and Marketing
Great East Road Campus| P.O Box 32379| Lusaka, 10101| Tel: +260 211 251 593|
Fax: +260 1 253 952 | Website: www.unza.zm

THE University Management wishes to dismiss media reports pertaining to the purported ‘single sourcing’ of gardening and landscaping services by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia (UNZA).
The story further alleges that the university has displaced fifty (50) short term contract workers resulting from the action by the Vice Chancellor.
The truth of the matter is that, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Luke Evuta Mumba has never at any time single-handedly selected a contractor for any works in the University. The allegations labelled against the Vice Chancellor, are false, malicious, defamatory and well calculated to put the name of University and the Vice- Chancellor into disrepute, odium and contempt.
The public would be interested to know that The University of Zambia (UNZA) has a fully-fledged and functional Procurement Department headed by a Procurement Manager. This department works with a Standing Procurement Committee that selects contracts based on prescribed criteria for any works that the University may require from time to time.
The allegations relating to a company called ‘Plant World’ are therefore false as no company has been out-sourced to do any gardening works at the University of Zambia.
Further, the public may wish to know that as regards the Gardeners on short term contracts, the University is constrained to say much as this matter is before the High Court. This is after Forty (40) of the individuals on short term contracts sued the University under Cause No. COMP/IRCLK/ 683/2020 demanding all sorts of reliefs including pensions and employment on Permanent and Pensionable basis.
It must be noted that this category of employees are usually employed on short term basis because the institution cannot afford to employ them on terms and conditions for which they have sued.
Thus Management of the University of Zambia has taken a stand that since the employer-employee relationship has broken down irretrievably, the institution will not re-engage this category of

Professor Luke Evuta Mumba

employees as they have rejected their status under this type of contract.

By Dr. Brenda Bukowa
A/Head – Communication and Marketing
Email: comm.marketing@unza.zm

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