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UZ set to disenfranchise thousands
Students Solidarity Trust
April 13, 2010

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Registrar Sergeant M. Chevo posted a notice at campus on the 12th of April 2010 that is set to barricade thousands of students from writing their end of semester examinations. The examinations are pencilled to commence on the 19th of April 2010 which is ironically a public holiday denigrating the essence of Independence Day. Zimbabweans observe the Independence Day on 18 April of every year. President Mugabe has presided over independent Zimbabwe for 30 years since 1980 and his reign has been characterised by socio-economic and political obstacles. Health and education sectors are recovering from a decade of neglect and underfunding. The current move by UZ administration to bar students who are not fully paid up from accessing the examination venues from 19 April 2010 is an assault on the right to education and reverses the gains made under the inclusive government towards education transition and recovery.

The communiqué posted on UZ notice boards advised all students that the final date of registration is tomorrow (Wednesday, 14th April 2010, 1600 hours) giving students an ultimatum of 48 hours to respond by paying fees. It strongly warned students that the Bursar and Students Records and Registration offices will not accept any registration forms after this date. The notice further stated that students who fail to register within the set 48 hours will not be allowed to sit for the examinations. It is alleged in the notice that all preparations for the examinations are being based on the number of registered students and so no special cases will be entertained. The University stated it has no facility to assist students financially. Students facing financial hardships were encouraged to pursue mockingly within 48 hours the rigorous and partisan procedures of enrolling in the disgraced cadetship scheme. It was also stated that no students whatsoever will be able to write examinations before paying the full fees, or in the case of the cadets, all mandatory fees. Students on cadetship scheme pay mandatory fees of between US$73 and US103. Tuition fees are pegged at over US$400.

It is clear that on this fateful day of commencement of end of first semester examinations, university as well as state security personnel will be armed to the teeth barring "unregistered" students from writing the examinations which they have adequately prepared for. Students will just have two options: to drop out of the university or to defer their studies indefinitely. University authorities and law enforcement have been blamed in the past for the heavy handedness in reacting to protesting students. The Professor Levi Nyagura led UZ administration in July 2007 evicted 4500 students from halls of residence after issuing a 30 minutes notice. Demonstrations have surged ever since the withdrawal of the loan system commonly known as payouts in the university circles in February 2006.

Meanwhile ZINASU leaders Andrew Joshua Chinyere 4th year Bachelor of Laws Student and Wisdom Magagara 3rd year Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Social Work have been served with suspension letters in terms of Section 8 (3) (d) of the draconian University of Zimbabwe Act. The suspensions are indefinite. The hearing dates were not mentioned in the suspension letters. Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura alleges that it has been brought to his attention that the couple led a demonstration at Bindura University of Science Education. The two join hundreds of other students who have been suspended by Nyagura in the recent past. Judging from what has becoming of other suspended students the fate of the couple is almost sealed; expulsions.

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