UNIVERSITY students’ representative groups throughout the country have condemned the recent suspension of five student leaders at Solusi University for allegedly inciting students to demonstrate against the introduction of a $90 development levy.
By NQOBANI NDLOVU
Students at the Seventh Day Adventist Church-run university boycotted classes last week in protest against a decision to introduce a development levy at a time they were already burdened with high tuition fees.
Fees at the university are pegged at $900 for students studying humanities and commercials, while those studying science courses pay up to $1 000 per semester.
Authorities at the university had to call riot police to disperse the students who were demanding audience with vice-chancellor Joel Musvosvi to air out their grievances.
Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) secretary-general, Godknows Mdhari said they had engaged lawyers to challenge their colleagues’ suspension.
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“We have since engaged our lawyers to assist the students on this case and before end of this week, consensus will have been reached.
“The university has so far been cooperating well in handling the matter and we expect normality to return at the institution very soon,” Mdhari said.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president, Alister Pfunye also said they were taking legal action against Solusi University.
“We condemn the evil act by Solusi University in suspending the SRC president (Ashwell Zikhali) and his team, who stood up for the suffering students whose parents have to work extra hard to get $1 200 fees in this struggling economy, hence will be taking legal action to bring them back on campus,” he said.
“We will also sue dean of students in person for an illegal act with his administration in sending away the student who are defending academic freedoms.”
Solusi University’s dean of students, Christopher Thebe could not be reached for comment yesterday, although he was said to the preparing to issue a statement over the issue.