MORE than 100 National University of Science and Technology (Nust) students staged a demonstration at the institution’s administration block yesterday protesting a go-slow by lecturers over a salary dispute.
LINDA CHINOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT
The students demanded to see vice-chancellor Lindela Ndlovu, but university security told them he was away.
The students said they were prepared to sleep on campus until Ndlovu addressed them.
Zimbabwe Congress of Students’ Union (Zicosu) president Farai Mteliso said students had lost patience with the university authorities.
“We demanded to see the vice chancellor, but he is unavailable. They have been dodging us, but not this time,” he said.
“We will not leave these premises unless and until one of the administration officials tells us what is going on and the way forward.”
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Mteliso said parallel students had gone for a month without lecturers yet exams were around the corner.
“We have gone for a month without lectures. How do final year students complete their degrees when such events are taking place in the institution?
“Some of the students come from as far as Mutare only to spend a month doing nothing yet they paid their fees and are paying rent. Parents struggle to make ends meet, but this is what the university does.
“We understand that the lecturers want their money, but then how do we come in between their problems with the administration.
“We want lectures to resume and we are serious about this.”
Anti-riot police swarmed the campus, but the students continued to chant slogans denouncing the university administration.
The demonstration comes after Nust director of information and public relations, Felix Moyo, last week claimed that lecturers had ended their industrial action.
However, Nust Educators’ Association dismissed Moyo’s assertions saying the strike was far from over.
It is understood Nust is owed about $1,3 million by parallel and masters’ students in unpaid fees while lecturers are owed over $1 million in outstanding pay.
