HARARE - Almost 80 per cent of the students at the countrys once-premier learning institution, The University of Zimbabwe, have failed to pay their tuition fees. ZINASU President Clever Bere (pictured), said this was relative.Some students are actually attending the lectures when they are not technically registered with the college. From the snap survey we have conducted, over 80 per cent of the students are yet to pay anything. Those who did pay could only afford between US$10 and US$100. If the government insists on payment of fees, a catastrophe will occur, said the student leader.
In spite of serious lobbying and demonstrations to force the government to review the fees, students have had little success. We have noticed a change in approach by the government. Mugabes government did not even react to demonstrations but this Government of National Unity is different and seem to be moved by our demonstrations, said Bere.
At its peak the college had more than 10 000 students, but the number has dramatically decreased in the last year. Our strategy, which is working in the short term, is to have students attend classes as we continue to wage our struggles for the resolution of the fees crises, said Bere. The government has offered bonds to students who cannot pay the tuition, but most students opted not to enlist. Some of us are already finishing off our courses and for us to be bonded is unfair, said one student, Timothy Revesai.