Zimbabwe students protest against high school fees

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – The Zimbabwe National Students Union today joined the Zimbabwe High Schools Students Union (ZIHISSU)in protesting against the astronomically high fees being levied both in high schools and tertiary institutions.

Addressing scores of students at the Ministry of Education Sports Arts and Culture head offices at the Ambassador House today the ZIHISSU President Cde Kudakwashe Munemo castigated Minister David Coltard’s due date on examination fees saying it was a gross violation of the African child’s rights and a clear negation of responsibility by the ministry as well as the government.

President Munemo also emphasised on the ministry’s insincerity in dealing with students issues saying time has come that Zimbabwe’s top government officials should desist from making empty rally rhetoric to appease and silence the voice of desperate students.

President Munemo also castigated the Ministry of Higher Education for denying students their 2009 examination results as well as barring thousands of students at the University of Zimbabwe, Great Zimbabwe University as well as the Midlands State University from sitting for their end of semester because they constitute the poor of the nation.

Also speaking at the gathering was the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)acting Education and Research secretary Noel Gotora who reminded the gathered students of the Sharpeville massacre and the strength of the students if united by a common purpose.

Cde Gotora told representatives of the Education Sports Arts and Culture that the two ministries of education can never locate justifications and logic for imposing such education denying fees structures to the same students whose parents are civil servants and are earning paltry salaries of US$120 per month.

The ZIHUSSU delegation later received audience from representatives of Minister David Coltard who promised to look into the matter with urgency, however the ZIHISSU President emphasised that the Union shall not relax because they had been granted some charming promises fearing that the words might turn out to be kisses of the enemy designed to appease the Union into submission.

ZINASU shall struggle shoulder to shoulder with all the poor sons and daughters of Zimbabwe whose quest for knowledge is facing sombre threats from the government’s empty neo-liberal polices.

ZINASU is committed to fight at all levels to ensure that the right to education is realised by all as dictated by the Universal Declaration of Human rights and all other declarations on education.

We salute these young brave sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who demonstrated in the streets of Zimbabwe today.

Struggle is our birthright!

28/05/10