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UZ suspends SRA spokesperson
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
November 01, 2010

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chipo Dyanda at 1630hrs today (Monday 8 November 2010) served a letter of indefinite suspension upon the UZ Student Representative Assembly (SRA) spokesperson Tinashe Chisaira. The third year law student is being accused of placing notices to the Students Union for 2010 Student Representative Council (SRC) elections nominations.

The university last conducted SRC elections in 2007 the SRA is mandated to conduct the SRC elections in terms of the UZ student union constitution.

Part of the suspension letter given to Chisaira by Prof. Dyanda read, "it has been brought to my attention that on Wednesday 3 November 2010 you Tinashe Chisaira behaved in an extremely unbecoming manor when you went around the University main Campus and pasted notices on various structures to the effect that the SRC elections for 2010; would be held on Thursday 4 November 2010 in the student affairs board room. Accordingly and in light of the allegations detailed above I have found it necessary to suspend you, with immediate effect from the University of Zimbabwe for an indefinite period".

Students art the UZ have been expressing grievances over accommodation which has not been opened since 2007; an expensive semester ID system and tuition fees that are astronomic plus lack of respect for the student union. It is feared the resuscitation of the student union would mobilize the students to demand an immediate redress of their plight.

Obert Masaraure the ZINASU president expressed shock at the suspension he said "we are now reconsidering the worth of our peaceful engagement with the insensitive administrators and we are being forced to institute some extreme measures to mitigate against the acts of terrorism by college authorities against innocent students".

Tinashe Chisaira has since instructed a lawyer Frank Hwenhira of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre to file and urgent chamber application at the High Court on his behalf.

Meanwhile the UZ security are hunting for Pride Mkono one of the SRC presidential aspirants who had to run for dear life on Thursday 4 November 2010 when campus security attempted to manhandle him whilst he was addressing score of students at the Faculty of Social Studies in anticipation of the aborted SRC elections.

ZINASU demands the immediate reinstatement of Tinashe Chisaira and all the 50 students on suspension and the stop of any further harassment of Mkono and other students.

Visit the ZINASU fact sheet

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