Student leader abducted as food and housing crisis continues

By Tererai Karimakwenda
27 April, 2007

The president of the Students Union at Hillside Teachers College was abducted from his campus residence in Bulawayo on Thursday and has not been seen since. The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) reports that Tafadzwa Chengewa, was abducted by four unidentified men wearing black suits and driving an unregistered Mazda 323 vehicle.

ZINASU president Promise Mkwananzi said this vehicle has been used to abduct other student leaders and activists. Colleges in Bulawayo and surrounding areas were searched, and lawyers have been engaged to assist in the search for Chengewa.

Meanwhile at Masvingo State University, lecturers are on strike after turning down a small salary increase offered by government. They believe it is not enough given the skyrocketing increases in the cost of basic services and food. Mkwananzi confirmed that there are currently no classes being held at Masvingo State despite statements by the officials that the situation was back to normal.

Students at the institution report that they are still being denied access to food. Mkwananzi told us the situation was in its second week. He said two student activists had been suspended indefinitely for addressing other students over this food crisis.

A serious accommodation crisis has been reported at Bulawayo Polytechnic College where the officials are re-assigning the students’ halls of residence to college staff. A statement from ZINASU said the Vice Principal Gilbert Mabasa offered students’ accommodation to security guards, cooks, academic and non-academic staff after negotiations over their salary packages. These workers are being charged Z$1,000,000 per month for the accommodation, while students are charged the same amount but for a single day. Those who cannot afford it are simply told to find alternatives.