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Citizen’s Coalition for Change Member of Parliament for Mbizo Settlement Chikwinya has not minced his words stating that the Zimbabwean government is punishing local students.Chikwinya made the remarks as he urged government not to hinder the education of all Zimbabwean students, because most of its officials benefited free education under former racist UDI Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith.
“Hitting the ground running. Students at all levels of education must be allowed to pursue their careers unhindered. These old man in government are beneficiaries of free education under Ian Smith. Why punish students today,” said Chikwinya.
Chikwinya, in a tweet highlighted the need to allow all students at all levels to pursue their education and enjoy the benefit of free education just like those currently in government who had priviledges during the time of the white minority rule.
Chikwinya’s statement came in after he had requested Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Professor Amon Murwira to issue a ministerial statement in the August House on the escalating fees charged to tertiary students.
“My matter of national importance emanates from that various university students have been given notice to register for their examinations, but the notice is short and the fees are exorbitant for them to be able to raise the required amounts of registration fees in the given time,” Chikwinya said.
“My concern is borne out of consultation, being that if one fails to register, they defer examinations which are a departure from the norm where previously students were allowed to make a payment plan or at least sit for examinations and then fail to obtain results until they have paid for those examinations.
“So I move that if the Higher and Tertiary Education minister can come to Parliament at least with a ministerial statement as to why the rules have changed, and as Parliament, we can have a national discourse around finding a solution which allows the students to pursue their educational careers without disturbance.”
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda responded: “We will try to inform the honourable minister as the matter is hot and we hope that the minister will be able to explain.”
Recently, University of Zimbabwe students protested, saying the fees were too high after they were raised from $19 000 to $51 088 per semester, leading to the arrest of some students.
The ministry delayed to gazette the proposed fees that the university had submitted earlier in the year. The students were asked to pay at least 80%, pending the final figure so that the university can open.
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