The war in our colleges continues as the government pursues its agenda to privatize all institutions of higher learning. As the last semester started at the end of January, the ZANU (PF) thugs were more than ready to shut down all universities citing the lack of a coherent funding policy from the banks. They still sought to continue with the fees policy that was massively rejected by the entire students union during the past year. This has been massively rejected by the students as witnessed in the past week following a massive general meeting at NUST attended by more than 2000 students on the 4th of February.
As the Minister of higher Education and Technology was getting ready to shut down the university until the 18th of March after then presidential election, anger was building amongst the students. The initial demand was the stopping of the closure. This meant students would need enough resources to be able to pull through the semester. The only option that the government would 'afford' the students was through the proposed new funding policy. This was met with stiff resistance by the students who vowed not to accept the 'death sentence' from the government. Students were chanting slogans denouncing the policy and the government for neglecting them. The general meeting resolved to fight on and stop the whole loan system. The meeting was followed by another meeting with the Metropolitan Bank officials who were booed off by the students who threatened to shut down the bank if it continued to play the oppressive game with the government. The mood signaled the start of a fight that the students will see themselves through the entire semester as the presidential election draws nearer. Further demands were made that the students were going to support in the coming election a party that will guarantee the right to education with a clear warning that any reneging on such promises will immediately draw massive protests from the students.
Opportunities for greater action are bright and as the students continue in this fight, the issues must be broadened. The recently passed POSB is one enemy that the students must unite with the workers and the poor to fight as we move into the year.