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Morgenster college reopens
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
July 22, 2004

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=34050&pubdate=2004-07-22

Morgenster Teachers’ College in Masvingo, which was shut down after student demonstrations early last month, has reopened with most students being readmitted.

The reopening has brought peace and tranquillity at the college, run by the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe.

It is believed that all the students who conformed with the college’s demands to re-apply were admitted.

RCZ general secretary in Masvingo Reverend Austin Mandebvu yesterday confirmed the reopening of the college.

"The college reopened on schedule and I believe that all the students who re-applied were admitted as per the expectations of the church board.

"We are also looking at some of the concerns raised by the students, but we will not back down on tuition fees which are about $1,3 million a term," said Rev Mandebvu.

He said that the position of the church on the principal, Mr Lloyd Chaduka, also remained unchanged.

The college, he said, had kept faith in Mr Chaduka because he had not been found guilty of any unprofessional misconduct which warranted dismissal. The students had been demanding the dismissal of the principal.

Rev Mandebvu said the church was working on improving the quality of food at the institution, which was one of the grievances raised by students.

"The church board will also be working on ways to make sure that there is no recurrence of demonstrations by students that disturb the core business of the institution," said Rev Mandebvu.

He denied that the reopening of the college was a result of litigation filed at the courts by students, saying the decision was taken in line with the college’s internal plans.

Two weeks after the closure of Morgenster, a Masvingo civil court issued a provisional order seeking its immediate reopening.

The order was in response to a legal challenge by students contesting the closure of the institution.

The students were represented by Mr Douglas Mwonzora of Mwonzora and Associates.

However, the order was later set aside by the same court after the college filed papers opposing the students’ application.

In his opposing papers, college principal Mr Chaduka, who was instructed by Mr Rodney Makausi and Mrs Nyaradzo Chiwa of Chihambakwe, Makonese and Ncube, argued that the majority of students, except for only 14, had re-applied, meaning that the applicants did not represent the interests of all the students.

He argued that it was the church board that had resolved to close the college, ruled out his dismissal and had said the tuition fees would remain unchanged and that he had therefore done nothing wrong.

Students who were re-admitted to the college were given two months to settle their tuition fees in a move that will go a long way in mitigating their plight.

When the college was closed last month, heavily armed policemen descended on the campus and ordered students to leave within 30 minutes.

They accused Mr Chaduka of corruption and victimisation, but the principal was given a vote of confidence by the church board.

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