JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwean students on Presidential Scholarship at Fort Hare University have been given R3000 each and told to go home after the politically motivated withdrawal of their sponsorship by the government. The university has reportedly told the students to go and sort out the issue with Chris Mushowe, the director of the Presidential Scholarship Fund in Zimbabwe. Three of the affected students say they formed an MDC structure at the college, which led to their expulsion. Minenzima Vusani says the government withdrew their sponsorship after they violated their study conditions by engaging in political activism.
But the students maintain they are victims of political discrimination, as Zanu (PF) students at Fort Hare constantly engage in political activities with impunity including wearing Zanu (PF) t-shirts, chanting slogans and demonstrating. Vice Chancellor of Fort Hare, Tom Mvuyo, says the students should be grateful because he allowed them to continue with their education and write examinations after the withdrawal of their sponsorship. He further stated that the money he gave to the students for the transport came from the university coffers. Another student, Juma Ulete, who is an MDC member, said he and the other 12 students were afraid to return to Zimbabwe. Myself and other MDC students in the executive always receive anonymous calls saying they will deal with us when we cross the border. Even my mother always calls me crying on the phone. He said the students had spent the whole semester without any money for their upkeep.
Meanwhile, one of the expelled students has been given a new lease of life by a human rights organisation. An elated Tonderai Kunyaye said this week: I will be going to Netherlands or Britain to continue with my studies. I am grateful to the MDC Victims Association who facilitated this and the human rights group which I cannot name for now. In a letter written by the director of the Presidential Scholarship, Chris Mushowe, to the university suspending Kunyayes sponsorship, the student was accused of some misdemeanours, including dealing in precious minerals, masquerading as a security personnel, failing to submit his results and propagating malicious information about the Zimbabwean President.