Govt presidential scholarship scheme benefiting Mugabe relatives

By Lance Guma
16 August 2007

A government sponsored Presidential Scholarship Scheme introduced in 1995 to benefit students from poor families is said to be benefiting relatives, friends and children of Zanu PF chefs. Over 7 million rand a year is being spent on the programme. Tamuka Chirimambowa an Economic History student at the University of Kwazulu Natal said most of the students are doing degrees, which are already being offered in Zimbabwean Universities.

With the country having more than 12 universities he says there is no justification to spend that kind of money when local universities are crying out for resources. ‘This money could go a long way to improve the appalling conditions in Zimbabwean Universities,’ he argued. He says amongst the so-called disadvantaged students that came to his university are Chipo Matibiri and Hillary Matibiri, a former magistrate. Chipo is said to be Mugabe’s niece while Hillary is a nephew. ‘Is that disadvantaged, Chirimambowa asked?

Another student Albert Mugabe Jnr is alleged to have taken 7 years to complete a 3-year programme last year, highlighting once again the abuse of the programme by students who cannot be classed as gifted. The programme has been described as an extension of Mugabe’s patronage system and benefits an inner circle, while the general population is subjected to miserable educational standards. Over 4000 University of Zimbabwe students were evicted from their halls of residents on the 9th July. A few weeks later student Tafirenyika Magwidi was murdered by unknown assailants while walking to a temporary residence after writing an exam at the UZ.