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State of the higher education sector in Zimbabwe - April
Student Solidarity Trust
May 11, 2009

Higher Education in dire straits

The Students Solidarity Trust (SST) is disturbed by the appalling nature of human rights violations obtaining within the students movement, especially against the background of the inclusive government that has committed itself to the guaranteeing of security of persons as espoused by the Global Political Agreement (GPA). The continued arrests and suspension of student activists flies in the face of the spirit of the Global Political Agreement, and is testimony to the fact that Zimbabwe's institutions of higher learning are still hostile terrains that need reformation and transformation. We urge the inclusive government to put a plug on these human rights violations obtaining within the students' community, whose frequency and intensity are increasing by the day, and are putting a dent on the credibility of the inclusive government as freedom of association and assembly of students are still being trampled on with alarming impunity.

Be it as it may, whilst the inclusive government is showing remarkable signs of trying to rectify all that is wrong in Zimbabwe's battered political and economic spheres, the Students Solidarity Trust is disheartened by the seeming neglect of the terrible predicament obtaining in institutions of higher learning, particularly the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) which has remained close for over a year now. The continued closure of the University is short-changing students at that University and has the potential of inflicting irreversible damage on the welfare of students. We are cognisant of the revelation by the Vice-Chancellor, Levy Nyagura that the UZ needs about USD 4.5 million for it to be fully operational. And we also welcome the attempts to arrest the water problems at the campus by drilling boreholes. Against this background, we are persuaded to impress on the government, especially the Minister of Higher Education to tackle the issue of the University of Zimbabwe with the seriousness it deserves.

In the same vein, we are also perturbed by recent press reports that Zimbabwe's central bank raided the foreign currency accounts of universities to prop up President Robert Mugabe's government during a crippling economic and political crisis that saw inflation reach world record levels. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe withdrew money from the Africa University (AU) Public Sector Management Programme forex current account and did not reimburse the university. This is according to the University World News, published on Sunday May 3, 2009. These revelations are damning all the more coming against the backdrop of an inherent need to source funds from international donors so that our institutions of higher learning become functional again, and do not do any good to the appeal by U.Z Vice-Chancellor of USD4.5 million. Again, there is need for institutional reformation at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which this government should pursue with the urgency it deserves.

Victimization of students: Comparison of Statistics - April 2008 and April 2009

The Students Solidarity Trust recorded a dramatic increase in the number of cases of victimization in the month of April. In April 2008 10 students were arrested as compared to 55 students arrested in the same month this year, 7 students were unlawfully detained in April 2008 while 55 students were unlawfully detained in the same month this year. Three students were assaulted in April 2009 while 2 students were assaulted in April 2008. All in all, 31 cases of student victimization were recorded in April 2008 and 123 cases were recorded in the same month this year.

National University of Science and Technology (NUST)

The month of April saw students from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) protesting twice. Students were protesting against exorbitant tuition fees and the decision by University authorities to bar students who failed to pay tuition fees from writing examinations. A total of 16 students were arrested and detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station. Two students sustained serious injuries after they were assaulted by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police riot squad. Ten students' activists were suspended; these include NUST Student Representative Council (SRC) President Kurayi Hoyi, Samson Nxumalo, Vivid Gwede, Mukai Chigumo, Christopher Hwacha, Tawanda Saiti, Fotune Karimanzira, Degray Ziramba, Michael Zimamba, and Taurai Chimwanza

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)

Students from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) demonstrated in the streets of Masvingo on 20 April 2009. The demonstration was triggered by the exorbitant fees charged by the University and the decision by the University Vice Chancellor Professor Obert Maravanyika to deny students who had not paid school fees from sitting for their examination. Thirteen (13) students were arrested and detained at Rujeko Police station after they participated in the demonstration. Twenty four (24) students were also picked up by police at Masvingo Polytechnic campus. The arrested students include the ZINASU Legal Affairs Secretary Courage Ngwarai who spent seven (7) days in police custody before appearing in court where he was granted bail.

Category of right Violated: January - April

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