UZ students arrested for forgery

The students, detained at Avondale Police station, were said to have been charged for forgery of registration forms, signatures and stamps among others.

According to eye witnesses, this was because most students are struggling to raise fees that range from US$ 400 to 800. Most students had failed to access their results or graduate because of failure to raise the fees.

The papers were in- order, they appeared genuine while the registration form had all the signatures and stamps required, said a student who did not want to be named.

First, the registration form is acquired upon production of a receipt of payment of fees. Second, the bursars stamp certifies that a student is cleared of fees thereby enabling the continuation of registration. Thirdly, the faculty office signs the forms approving courses for registration. Fourthly, the forms are left at the student records offices and the student retains a copy. Fifthly, new University of Zimbabwe regulations require the production of these registration forms or receipts as proof of registration for one to write examinations.

The student said on Friday examinations at UZ were starting at 0900hrs. However, by end of day, 13 students were led into Avondale Police Station and detained under Detention Book (DB) number 554/10 to 566/10.

The student said this appeared to the tip of an iceberg as the scandal is believed to be bigger.

According to the student, as one approaches the Great Hall at the University, there is some graffiti which the authorities have tried to erase, which nevertheless is still visible.

It reads, “Ahoy Hondo! Exam: Write or Fight,” he said.

Explaining the origin of the graffiti, the student said, last year the UZ authorities attempted to enforce their new rules of registration, but however, due to the militancy of the then final years the rules were cancelled.

Nevertheless, even after writing the examination the students could not access their results. Eventually, some students did not get their degree results, transcripts and certificates. Students charge that the fees are exorbitant and are beyond their capacity, he said.

Students who have not paid fees have been denied access to University facilities like the library and the computer center.

In February 2009, student held a demonstration to protest high fees that had been pegged between US$ 1 400 and US$ 1 800.

Subsequently, the University was closed three days later for about four months. Professor Levi Nyagura, Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, released a press statement ascribing

the closure of the University to water and sanitation problems.

In July 2007 another fees demonstration against a Z$1million top up fees led to the eviction of students from the campus halls of residence on 30 minutes notice. The halls of residence are still closed. The University was closed and again authorities said it was due to water problems.

These blatant lies led to the watering down of the fees issue at the UZ and other tertiary institutions nation- wide, said the student.

“Students are not criminals at all. They are simply trying to survive and get an education in an environment that is difficulty, said a political science student, who was commenting on the arrest of the students.

In as much at what the students did appears immoral, I think it is rather the morality of those

that call themselves Heads of State and Government that is being questioned. These are their children and they are not asking for ice cream or chocolate, they are asking for education. I believe an unjust law is no law at all.”