The army bomb disposal unit was called to the University of Zimbabwe on Monday, after unidentified people petrol bombed an Isuzu KB twincab truck, belonging to the pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Chipo Dyanda.
A student, who preferred to be called Mayibuye, told SW Radio Africa they heard a blast emanating from the administration block and went there to see what had happened. He says they saw Professor Dyandas vehicle on fire and the speculation was that disgruntled students had petrol-bombed it.
Mayibuye says a white van, believed to be from the bomb disposal unit, was parked near the scene of the blast. He says he and other students nearby were briefly detained and made to sit on the floor because they had passed through a cordon police had made using string.
There were police carrying guns and something like 7 military personnel carrying guns, Mayibuye said. Only last Friday there was a heavy police presence on the campus, as authorities anticipated massive student protests over exorbitant tuition and exam fees that have seen the majority unable to register.
In the run-up to the police deployment unnamed activists had distributed leaflets announcing what they called 2 December Judgment on UZ authorities, including Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura, whom they accused of mismanagement.
Issues in contention at the college include, the removing of students from lectures, exams and university facilities, like the library, over non- payment of fees, leading to subsequent non registration and the failure to open halls of residence for four years now, despite the resolution of water problems originally cited as the reason for closing them, Mayibuye told us.
Students are also furious they have to fork out US$6 every semester for ID cards being produced by a private company (Identity Systems International) who were allegedly given the tender under dodgy circumstances. With an estimated student population of 10,000 the company is making US$60 000 a semester something that is also infuriating the students.
It does not help that the UZ has not had a Students Representative Council (SRC) for 4 years now, after authorities banned it. Activists say the petrol bombing incident is the result of there being no communication channel between students and those running the university.
Post published in: News