National student body estimate 100 000 drop out over fees
By Tichaona Sibanda
15 January 2007

Close to 100 000 students from the country’s higher learning institutions are believed to have dropped out in the last year because they cannot afford the ever-increasing fees.

President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union, Promise Mkwananzi told Newsreel on Monday that a further 150 000 students are not certain if they would be able to complete their studies.

Over the weekend government increased fees at state universities and colleges by between 300 and 2,000 percent. The ZINASU President who is still in hiding has described the latest increases as a recipe for disaster.

Mkwananzi has been on the police’s most wanted list for the last three months after authorities in the country accused him of organising a series of illegal student demonstrations against the government.

Speaking to Newsreel from his hideout Mkwananzi painted a grim future for students. He said the massive hike in tertiary fees would lead to more students dropping out, as they will find the higher payments beyond their means amid the continuing economic collapse.

There are renewed fears the stage has once again been set for a collision course between government and the students. Last year there were numerous running battles between the riot police and students from various institutions. ZINASU is a body of more than 300 000 students from the 42 tertiary institutions in the country.

And Mkwananzi promises there could be more; ‘the latest hikes will trigger more revolts against the government. We are dealing with a rebellious government that views education as a secondary matter. This means they are throwing the country future into dustbins.’

Mkwananzi said figures released by the government through its controlled media were far lower than the figures they got. According to the Sunday Mail, medical and veterinary students at state institutions will now be forced to pay Z$180,000 up from Z$44,000. Students at government-run industrial training centres will be forced to pay Z$42,000 per year, up from Z$2,000.

‘I think for propaganda purposes the government has released figures that are far below what students have been asked to pay. For the record, some students’ fees has risen to Z$590 000 up from Z$40 000 and why the government chooses to hide those figures from the press seems rather strange,’ added Mkwananzi.