Six University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students were arrested on Monday afternoon after staging a flash protest, calling on the institution’s authorities to urgently address lecturers’ grievances.
The arrested students are: UZ ZINASU chairperson Narshon Kohlo, Tafadzwe Katsande, Blessing Mtisi, Tawananyashe Hove, Nodesha Maingehama, and Tariro Mtukura.
They were apprehended by UZ security, who disrupted the protest, and were subsequently taken to Avondale Police Station.
Kohlo accused UZ Vice Chancellor Paul Mapfumo of ignoring the crisis which has disrupted learning at the institution. Said Kohlo:
We are here protesting against the University of Zimbabwe’s Professor Paul Mapfumo and Munyaradzi Madambi, who are denying us our right to education. We paid full tuition fees, and we expect learning services in return.
In this block, we did not write exams because we did not have lectures. They are trying to act as if everything is normal when nothing is normal. It cannot be business as usual at the University of Zimbabwe until the lecturers are back.
Lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe have been on strike for over a month, demanding salary increases and improved working conditions.
They are calling for their salaries to be pegged at US$2,250, arguing that this is in line with regional standards.
The strike has disrupted academic activities, with lecturers refusing to attend meetings, invigilate exams, or mark students’ scripts.
More: NewZimbabwe.com
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