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Students reject new fees structure
Student Solidarity Trust
March 06, 2009

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has rejected the new fees structure announced by the government on Wednesday maintaining that it is the duty of the state to pay for the education of its citizens. The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education announced fees ranging between US$100 and US$400 per semester depending on level of education and institution. The ZINASU President Clever Bere urged the government to revisit the issue of school fees and tertiary learning conditions in particular. The ZINASU President lashed the Cadetship scheme announced to assist those students without fees equating it to slavery. Bere condemned the cabinet in adopting the fees urging them to revisit the vocational training loans (VTL) and grants scheme.

Meanwhile the rival Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) has welcomed the new fees structure saying that most students will be able to go back to their respective colleges.Cristopher Mutangadura, ZICOSU President appreciated government efforts to assist them through the cadetship scheme. What boggles one's mind is that Mutangadura is also a prosecutor in the Attorney -General's Office and is involved in the case of jailed Movement for Democratic Change Treasurer-General and deputy minister of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett. Yesterday he opposed Bennett's application for bail.

The Chinese Embassy is yet to respond to the letter written by ZINASU urging them to return Bona Mugabe to Zimbabwe. In a letter written by the ZINASU press secretary Blessing Vava the student union urged the Chinese authorities to bring back the daughter of President Mugabe so that she will learn at local universities like her fellow Zimbabwean students. The "Bring back Bona Campaign" seeks to bring Bona Mugabe to Zimbabwe. She is learning at a Hong Kong University in China.ZINASU maintains that it is a waste of taxpayers money.

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