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University of Zimbabwe student leader suspended
Students Solidarity Trust
March 09, 2011

In yet another onslaught of student rights and liberties, the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Professor Levy Nyagura has suspended yet another student activist. Tinashe Chisaira, a member of the University Student Representative Assembly (SRA) collected his suspension letter dated 15 February today was found guilty of breaching ordinance 30 of the University of Zimbabwe. The student leader called for democratic Student Executive Council (SEC) elections late last year after there were indications that the University authorities would not hold these elections. Student Executive Council elections were last held in 2007 when Lovemore Chinoputsa was elected SEC President. Since then University of Zimbabwe authorities have been reluctant to allow students to freely elect their representatives.

The student leader was found guilty of breeching Section 3.1, Subsection 3.1.4 which provides that no student shall engage in any conduct that is likely to be harmful to the interests of the University, members of staff or students. In passing judgment the Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC) recommended that:

a) This letter serves as a final warning and advised that he would receive stern disciplinary action if he committed a similar offence,

b) His suspension will be lifted after paying USD100

c) The student would receive mandatory counseling from the University Counseling Services.

The University of Zimbabwe and Professor Nyagura in particular tops the list of most ruthless University administrators in the country. This is evident in the number of students who have been suspended from the country's oldest institution of higher learning. Lovemore Chinoputsa, Kudakwashe Mapundu, Ceaser Sitiya, Shadreck Vengesai, Joshua Chinyere, Wisdom Mgagara, Mfundo Mlilo, Collin Chibango, Garikai Kajau, Hetchel Mavhuma the list is endless, are all victims of Professor Nyagura's regime.

It is the view of the Student Solidarity Trust that authorities running State Universities and Colleges are running these institutions on purely partisan lines. After all the bulk of them are appointees of the President. This justifies the disappearance of academic freedoms in institutions of higher learning. We call upon the three Principal of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) to implement necessary reforms in the education sector aiming to stop abuse of student rights. Reforms are part of the solution in the revival of the county's education sector.

Visit the Students Solidarity Trust fact sheet

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