Student leaders defy expulsion order by attending lectures

By Lance Guma
21 March 2006

Three university of Zimbabwe student leaders who were expelled for organising demonstrations against tuition fee increases have continued attending lectures in defiance of the expulsions. Mfundo Mlilo, Wellington Mahohoma and Collen Chibango say they are tired of university authorities setting the agenda for them. Instead of them fighting the fee increases authorities were eager to divert their attention by forcing them into legal battles and in most cases forcing them into trying to secure scholarships for study abroad. This the trio say will not happen to them.

As far as they are concerned the expulsions are illegal and although their lawyers are working on the issue, they will continue to go on campus as usual. University security guards looked on helplessly as the student leaders walked through the gates on Tuesday. The sudden show of defiance took them by surprise and it was not immediately clear whether they will continue to let them through the security gates. Authorities at the campus have also refused to review the de registration of Students Executive Council (SEC) president Hentchel Mavuma on allegations he applied to re-sit for his exams way after the deadline.

The student’s executive met Monday evening and resolved not to accept the expulsions and Mavuma's de registration since they were politically motivated. The affected executive members will continue to run their departments as usual. Mfundo Mlilo who is the Secretary General of the SEC says they are already meeting officials from the MDC, Crisis in Zimbabwe and the National Constitutional Assembly about coordinating protests against the Mugabe regime.

The university has been rocked by several student demonstrations since it opened on the 27th of February. Most departments have gone for almost 4 weeks without any lessons. Students say they cannot afford the tenfold hike in tuition fees. Under gazetted fees they have to fork out between Z$35 and Z$90 million a year up from Z$3,5 million, depending on their faculty. To make matters worse support grants of Z$11,5 million a year remain far below the new requirements.