Government orders Universities to remain closed till after elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
30 January, 2008

In a move described by students as a sign of increased paranoia, the government has ordered all state run universities and colleges to stay closed until after elections on March 29th. Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa spoke to several lecturers and student leaders in Harare and Bulawayo who confirmed that the order had come from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. He said the authorities had not provided any alternative date for opening.

This means the University of Zimbabwe, the Midlands State University, the National University of Science and Technology and all state run colleges will not be starting lectures in February as usual.

Muchemwa said students from the Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) immediately criticised the authorities for continually disrupting their education. They believe the government fears that if the schools open before elections, students will gather on campuses and mobilise support for the opposition.

Meanwhile police disrupted a Student Representative Council meeting at the Bulawayo Polytech Institute on Wednesday and briefly detained 2 student leaders. Zinasu secretary for information and publicity Blessing Vava, and treasurer Blessing Mapenduka, were taken by police who had burst into the general meeting as it was about to start.

Zinasu representative Maureen Mapenzauka said police claimed the meeting was illegal because the students had not sought permission from them. But she explained that University and College campuses are exempt from the Public Order and Security Act, which requires police notification before any public gatherings.

Mapenzauka said it is worrisome that government has continued to show intolerance over basic individual rights, such as freedom of association and freedom of assembly, just before an election that is supposed to be free and fair.