JOHANNESBURG - A student who was elbowed out of Fort Hare University Speaking to The Zimbabwean, Tonderai Kunyanye said that he was using his book to expose the ills of the Zimbabwe Presidential Scholarship. This book will exhume all forms of violence against the students on the presidential scholarship in general. It is centred around Fort Hare University where I was expelled. This covers sexual harassment, corruption and victimization of students whose views are different from Zanu (PF), said Kunyane.
The student has further alleged that there is a lecturer at the institution who interrogates and harasses anyone presumed to be non Zanu (PF). Kunyane said that Zanu (PF) members at Forthare do not only chant slogans and wear Zanu (PF) t-shirts, but they also celebrate President Robert Mugabes birthday and nobody lifts a finger. The expelled student said there were also undeserving students on Presidential scholarships at the university. The fund that Kunyanye is in the progress of setting up will assist those students who are expelled from the university for political reasons.
This fund will also assist intelligent but disadvantaged students. A lot of organisations have pledged to assist with the fund, said Kunyanye. The fund shall assist those in Zimbabwe and those in the Diaspora. Kunyanye has named the fund, The Zimbabwe Presidential, Humanitarian and Book Project. He said that he would continue to fight for the emancipation of students.
Richard Smith, a researcher, is assisting the student in these projects. Students should not fall by the wayside when they are expelled, but should be afforded an opportunity to continue with their studies. The book shall empower the students also, said Smith.
Tonderai was on Presidential scholarship at Fort Hare doing Applied Communications and was expelled in August 2009 for alleged political activism. Kunyanye is adamant that he was fired for standing up for the rights of other students and for belonging to the MDC.
Post published in: News