ZIMBABWE: Premier vows to tackle student concerns

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has asked for a grace period to address student grievances, in a move that ended a countrywide class boycott following protests that saw eight student union members arrested last week.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) had called for the boycott of lectures, codenamed the 'Fresh Start Campaign', to protest against deteriorating higher education standards among other things.

On Monday eight students, including Zinasu President Obert Masaraure, were arrested by the police for participating in the boycott.

Masaraure was released on the same day but seven other student leaders in Masvingo, in southern Zimbabwe, remained in detention. Police asked the seven to pay admission of guilt fines to facilitate their release, but they refused.

In a statement on Wednesday, Zinasu said its mass class boycott had been a success, shaking the corridors of power and prompting Tsvangirai to meet with student leaders twice in 24 hours and to ask for a grace period to enable the government to tackle their grievances.

Tsvangirai, leader of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change, joined a unity government with long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in February last year, following a disputed presidential poll. Tsvangirai became Prime Minister and Mugabe remained President - he has ruled Zimbabwe for three decades, since independence from Britain in 1980.

Zinasu said Tsvangirai had asked for a grace period "to push for a final redress" of numerous student concerns including: re-introduction of the government loan and grant scheme; the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all drop-outs, suspended and expelled student activists; and an end to widespread victimisation of student activists.

The Zinasu statement also said students were demanding unconditional cancellation of student debt and the immediate release of examination results; better and sustainable remuneration for lecturers; upgrading the general welfare of students in all institutions; and the immediate opening of the halls of residence at the University of Zimbabwe.

Lecturers in Zimbabwe earn between US$300 and US$800 a month, while students have found it hard to pay their tuition and other costs due to the country's underperforming economy.

Halls of residence at the University of Zimbabwe remain closed due to shortage of water, amid fears of a repeat of a 2008 cholera outbreak that claimed more than 5,000 lives.

As part of its deal with the country's premier, Zinasu said Tsvangirai had undertaken to tour the University of Zimbabwe to assess the state of halls of residence. They hope the visit will culminate in the reopening of hostels.

The prime minister is also said to have undertaken to lead a cabinet engagement with the ministers of finance, home affairs and tertiary education in an effort to resolve the issues of student funding, cancellation of student arrears and an end of victimisation of students.

Zinasu said the ill treatment of students was continuing. During the class boycott, universities and colleges countrywide had been besieged by armed police who, the union claimed, had intimidated students and warned that 'funny behaviour' would result in law enforcement agents being forced to 'shoot to kill'.

"ZINASU is calling off the three-day-old boycott but would be on the streets before the end of next week if nothing satisfactory materialises from the premier's undertaking," the union added in the statement.