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University of Zimbabwe hikes fees by 90 percent
Tichaona Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
May 31, 2006

The University of Zimbabwe has hiked its tuition and accomodation fees from Z$90 million to Z$150 million per semester and are almost certain to be heading on a collision course with students. UZ Vice-chancellor Levy Nyagura announced the new fee hikes in a circular sent out on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe National Students Union co-ordinator Washington Katema said he was informed of the ‘sad news’ on Tuesday and blasted the government for unilaterally raising the fees when ‘almost all students were struggling to pay Z$90 million.’

‘What the government has just done is to add salt to injury. We are sons and daughters of poor farmers and civil servants who are struggling to get us to school with the little money they get from their salaries,’ Katema said.

Katema strongly believes the fee hike is an attempt by the government to close down universities in the country. Lately, students have been on the ‘war path’ with authorities, clashing with the police over a number of unresolved issues with the government. Chief among the students’ grievances have been the fee hikes, that triggered violent clashes between law enforcers and the students.

There are fears the latest hikes will fuel more disturbances between the students and the authorities.

According to Katema, the latest increases will affect everyone at the UZ. He said the reaction from the students was naturally to drop out of the college because none of them seems to have any alternative.

‘This is a disaster, basically what this means is government has killed our vision and hopes of having tertiary education. Government has killed our future and destroyed our hopes. In fact they don’t deserve to be called a government, they have failed to deliver and must go,’ said Katema.

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