A CRISIS has erupted at Hillside Teachers College after a presidential candidate was repeatedly excluded from the Student Representative Council (SRC) nomination list despite a successful appeal, sparking anger, confusion and growing unrest among students as the elections face uncertainty.
In an eight-page report, Bulawayo SRC chairperson Promise Murapio said the crisis began when Ashley Mlandeli, a duly registered candidate who had properly submitted nomination papers on February 26, was excluded from the initial nomination list published on the next day without explanation.
He said this prompted an immediate appeal which was successful, resulting in reinstatement and the postponement of elections from an earlier date to March 11 due to disruptions caused by the process.
“As the rescheduled election date, the college failed to proceed citing technical and logistical challenges, before publishing a new nomination list on March 12, backdated to 11 March, which again excluded the same candidate despite the earlier reinstatement, raising serious concerns about procedural fairness and transparency,” the report reads.
“This situation clearly shows a disturbing pattern where a candidate is accepted, excluded, reinstated and then excluded again without justification.”
Murapio said the publication of a backdated list only deepens suspicions of manipulation, especially as the administration has remained silent throughout, offering no explanation for its actions or clarity on the election timeline.
“The sequence of events demonstrates more than an administrative error, pointing instead to a deliberate effort to keep the candidate off the ballot, while the administration’s silence on key issues — including the first exclusion, the appeal outcome, the backdated list and the election date — has eroded trust and confidence in the electoral process.”
He noted that students have since mobilised across campus, sharing evidence, organising discussions and preparing to submit a formal petition demanding answers, reinstatement of the candidate and suspension of elections until the matter is resolved.
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“We are now seeing anger, distrust and determination among students, who feel the integrity of their democratic process is under threat.
“If elections go ahead without resolving these concerns, they will be widely viewed as illegitimate, not just at the college, but across the student movement, as this sets a dangerous precedent for undermining fairness and student democracy.”
Hillside Dean of Students, Rusununguko Masaisai, declined to comment on the matter, stating that the principal has the authority to answer the questions.
“I cannot respond to that. Only the principal has the authority to do so,” Masaisai said.
“The information should be shared in a face-to-face conversation, and the person providing it should be able to allow others to respond.”
