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ZINASU student factions bury the hatchet and unite
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
May 03, 2010

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news030510/zinasu030510.htm

A secret meeting organized in Harare on Sunday was able to bring the two warring Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) factions together and see the election of an 11-member interim executive. Last year the union split into two, over a variety of reasons including whether to support the government backed constitution making process or not. But the hastily convened 10-hour meeting at St Lucia Park in Harare's Marlborough suburb was able to bury the hatchet between the two competing executives.

A new executive, comprising members of both factions, was elected and will be led by Obert Masaraure, formerly a deputy to Tafadzwa Mugwadi. Joshua Chinyere, another former faction president, becomes Secretary General. It was not smooth sailing though as Mugwadi is reported to have walked away 30 minutes before the end of the meeting. The new spokesman, Grant Tabvurei, told us they would not be held to ransom by one individual and said no one can now claim to lead any other ZINASU faction.

Tabvurei also told us 19 out of a total 21 executives from the two groups were present at the meeting. Both factions agreed to a number of concessions, notably the dissolution of a controversial secretariat to be replaced by a new one, plus the appointment of a new advisory body and for the union to re-affirm its 'centre-leftist' (socialist) approach to politics.

It was also agreed that both factions move away from the controversial location of their offices. One faction opposed to the constitution making process was housed at the National Constitutional Assembly offices in Bumbiro House while the one that supported the process was housed at the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition offices. 'ZINASU shall have independent offices away from Crisis Coalition and Bumbiro House,' a statement said.

On whether the students union will support the constitution making process or not it was resolved that 'ZINASU shall convene a constitutional conference to enable students to debate and come up with a position.' Tabvurei told us all the student leaders from the different colleges and universities across the country would make this decision.

While the two factions had focused on battling each other for legitimacy, students countrywide faced many challenges, including failing to write their exams over unpaid tuition fees. 'We should have been dealing with these issues instead,' Tabvurei told us.

Meanwhile the students will be holding a press conference in Harare on Tuesday afternoon at the Cresta Oasis Hotel, to announce the new developments.

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