Students resolve to support ZCTU stay-away

By Tererai Karimakwenda
29 March 2007

University students in Zimbabwe have said the mass stay-away organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is an event that will benefit the whole country and should be supported by all Zimbabweans. Beloved Chiweshe, secretary general of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), said a national meeting was held last week and the students resolved to do everything within their power to make to make sure the ZCTU stay-away was a success.

The mass action scheduled for April 3-4 is the result of government’s chronic mis-management of the economy and the destruction of it’s agricultural base. With the world’s highest inflation rate all workers are battling to survive on wages that are generally below the poverty datum line. The ZCTU gave government a deadline earlier this year but so far no real attempt has been made to resolve this crisis.

Chiweshe said ZINASU represents students who become workers the moment they graduate and they will have to face this shrinking labour force and collapsing economy. This is why it is important for them to assist the ZCTU now before they leave school. Chiweshe also said their parents are struggling to pay unaffordable fees, accommodation and food while earning wages below the poverty datum line.

Asked if there were any negotiations or progress being made by government to resolve the students’ issues, Chiweshe said no such discussions were going on. Explaining further he said: “If recent developments are anything to go by, they show we have a government which does not have ears and does not listen, not only to its citizenry, but it does not listen to international community, the Church and it also does not listen to God.”

Meanwhile 17 student activists, including the ZINASU Vice President Gideon Chitanga, appeared in court Thursday facing charges under POSA for demonstrating against the current state of affairs at Masvingo State University. They were further remanded to Monday the 2nd April.

ZINASU President Promise Mkwananzi, University of Zimbabwe Secretary General Maureen Kademaunga and Lawrence Mashungu also appeared at the Harare magistrates courts and were remanded to 25th April. They were arrested for addressing students at the Harare Polytechnic. Mkwananzi went into hiding immediately after court fearing abduction by state agents who have been grabbing activists around the country.