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Ten NUST students remain in custody: Students leaders on run
Student Solidarity Trust
April 18, 2009

Ten students from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) who were arrested following a demonstration on campus Thursday April 16, 2009 against the deferment of students who have failed to pay tuition and examination fees still languishes in police custody. The students held at Bulawayo Central Police Station are Trevor Vambe, Christopher Hwada, Brighton Mukwari, Fortune Karimanzira, Kennedy Chizana, Michael Zvinowanda, Evans Musara, Mukai Chigumo, Lawrence Bhebhe and Tawanda Saiti. According to Mrs. Doreen Phulu from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) the ten arrested students are facing charges of malicious injury to property.

NUST Students Representative Council (SRC) President Kurai Hoyi , Samson Nxumalo (Secretary General), Vivid Gwede (former SRC Secretary General) and ZINASU Treasurer Sheunesu Nyoni are on the run as they are sought after by the Bulawayo Central Police Law and Order officers. They are accused by the University authorities and the police of inciting students to destroy property at the University. ZINASU and NUST SRC petitioned the Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu to allow students who have not paid fees to write their examinations in line with the government policy that no student will be turned away over non payment of fees. Currently students who are eligible to write examinations are less than 50 to a total of 4000 students. Contrary to a statement issued by the NUST Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Felix Moyo to the effect that those on cadetship may sit for the exams; a notice posted on the notice boards stated that only those who are able to produce proof of full payment of fees will gain entry into the examination venue to write the examinations.

Meanwhile the University of Zimbabwe has once again failed to open its doors to students as scheduled. The Vice Chancellor had announced that the university was going to open on the 31st of March 2009. Professor Levy Nyagura then issued a statement to the effect that the university needs US$3,2m to attend to some of the problems bedeviling the oldest institution of higher learning in Zimbabwe. He cited water problems and brain drain as some of the major problems hindering the opening of the university.

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