Medical students in Zambia 'barely surviving'

A group of Namibian medical students studying at Lusaka Apex Medical University in Zambia under the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) scholarship programme say the ministry has left them stranded through nearly two years of unpaid tuition fees, erratic living allowances and what they describe as a complete breakdown in communication.

In a letter submitted anonymously to the media for fear of victimisation, the students say they have endured repeated humiliation at their university as unpaid tuition has forced them to seek financial clearance before examinations and clinical rotations, often in full view of lecturers and classmates.

"We have done everything expected of us as students, yet we are repeatedly placed in situations that undermine our dignity and professional standing," the letter states.

The students claim tuition payments have remained outstanding for almost two years despite repeated assurances from the ministry that the matter would be resolved.

Beyond tuition, they say delays in monthly allowances have left many unable to pay rent, buy food or meet transport costs while pursuing one of the country's most demanding professional qualifications.

According to the students, the latest allowance payment was delayed by more than a month without explanation, leaving many to accumulate debt and depend on others for survival.

The scholarship recipients say their attempts to resolve the matter internally have repeatedly failed.

Correspondence seen Namibian Sun shows that in October 2025 the students formally requested a virtual meeting with senior ministry officials to discuss ongoing administrative and financial challenges affecting their studies.

In the email, the students thanked the ministry for investing in their education but warned that prolonged procedural bottlenecks were placing major financial strain on them.

They proposed a virtual meeting with relevant officials to improve communication, streamline administrative processes and find lasting solutions.

The students stressed that their request was made "in a spirit of collaboration and respect" and was aimed at supporting both the ministry's operations and their academic stability.

However, they allege that repeated requests for engagement, including attempts to secure a meeting with the ministry's executive director, went unanswered.

Further email exchanges reviewed by this publication reveal growing tensions between the students and a ministry official responsible for processing scholarship documentation.

The official maintained that payments could not be processed without the correct university documents, saying she was obliged to comply with audit requirements and would not approve incomplete paperwork.

She also stated that obtaining certain academic documents from the university was the students' responsibility.

The students, however, argued that they had repeatedly complied with requests for additional documentation, even paying out of their own pockets to obtain officially stamped academic records after the university charged for the documents.

They further claimed they spent money travelling to and from campus to secure the required paperwork while already struggling financially because of delayed allowances.

In one response to the ministry, the students apologised for any misunderstanding and insisted they had never intended to accuse ministry officials of wrongdoing. Instead, they said they only wanted clarity on whether the latest documents submitted by the university met the ministry's requirements so payments could proceed.

The students also alleged that the tone of some communication from ministry officials had become hostile, saying the situation had taken a mental and emotional toll on them.

Despite this, they maintained they remained respectful in all correspondence and continued to seek dialogue rather than confrontation.

In their anonymous letter, the students warn that the crisis extends beyond their own welfare.

They argue that Namibia risks undermining its future healthcare workforce if medical students sponsored by the state are forced to spend more time chasing payments than concentrating on their clinical training.

"These scholarships represent an investment in Namibia's future healthcare workforce," the students wrote. "Many of us chose to study medicine because we want to return home and serve our communities."

The students say they hope public attention will finally prompt meaningful engagement from the ministry and result in lasting reforms that benefit both current scholarship recipients and future generations of Namibian medical students.

When reached for comment, the ministry’s spokesperson Walters Kamaya said “It's difficult to entertain anonymous queries, for the reason that if someone opts to be anonymous it means their query might not hold water. If a query is anonymous what proof do we have that it’s our student? What delay are they talking about? From which University in Zambia ? It’s advisable to be specific for us to review specific students' records,” he said on Tuesday. - [email protected]