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Government succumbs to students' pressure
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
November 29, 2010

The government of Zimbabwe succumbed to the pressure from Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) which has been persistently demanding the re-introduction of the loan and grant scheme and the refurbishment of halls of residence.The Finance Minister Tendai Biti in his 2011 budget took heed of the call of the mother Union a move which is set to improve the relationship between the students union and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The Finance Minister availed $US15 million for student support through loans and grants. The loans and grants were since terminated by the Mugabe regime in 2006 and were replaced by the unsustainable and enslaving cadetship scheme. ZINASU has for the past 4 years fought countless battles with government with the recent 18 October 2010 boycott eventually yielding results. According to Biti the loans will be accessed through ZB bank and ZINASU waits to get details on new policy from the insensitive Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.

In another positive development $US30 million was set aside for refurbishment of halls of residence. This is a direct response to the accommodation crisis at the University of Zimbabwe were halls of residence have been closed since 9 July 2007. In the last budget $US 5 million was allocated for the same cause and the union urges government to make a follow up especially on the UZ issue. The Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai promised to tour the University of Zimbabwe after the 18 October boycott and is set to visit the oldest University on 2 December 2010 to asses the situation on the ground.

The pro-poor US$ 2.7 billion 2011 budget is welcome to the students and the marginalized since there was an attempt to address pressing issues like civil servants' salaries and agriculture inputs for the communal farmers. The cutting of funding for foreign travel is also welcome since they are not a priority.

ZINASU extends a hand of solidarity to National Union of Students in Britain which is fighting against cuts on government support for students and the rise of fees. The battle against unjust policies shall definitely be won. To the winner of the Students Peace Prize 2011 Dusko Kostic of Rome we say congratulations.

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