UZ students urge sanctions against Nyagura

UZ students urge sanctions against Nyagura

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By Staff Reporter

UNIVERSITY of Zimbabwe (UZ) student leaders have petitioned the chairman of the European Union and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to impose travel sanctions on the institution's vice chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura.

The petition was also copied to the United Nations secretary general Koffi Annan, the SADC secretariat, all presidents of EU countries among others.

The students made five key demands.

The students want Professor Nyagura to stop alleged harassment of students following a string of suspensions and arrests of students, as well as a ban on students from organising meetings.

The students also want Nyagura to be reigned upon so that he reinstates suspended student representative president, Herchelle Mavhuma and five others.

Apart from blacklisting Nyagura, the students also want the EU to petition President Robert Mugabe in his capacity as the institution’s chancellor to pressure the frequent EU visitor to stop violating students’ rights.

The students said they also wanted the United Nations to provide temporary shelter to hundreds of students in light of the fact that the UZ has an accommodation crisis. Of the 12 940 enrolled students, only 4 000 are resident.

The UZ, Zimbabwe's top learning institution respected worldwide has experienced a drop in standards. Students have been barred from meeting or demonstrating against the institution's authorities.

They claim to live under inhuman conditions, with the 12940 students sharing 20 toilet chambers "that are often not functioning".

Mlilo Mfundo the SRC Information and publicity secretary told New Zimbabwe.com: “We have sent the petition to Prime Minister Blair in his capacity as EU chairman. Other offices, such as the EU Parliament Office have confirmed receipt of the petition.”

He claimed that there was increased harassment of students on campus by state security agents whose activities appear to be tacitly approved by the university authorities.

The students said four student leaders were picked up by police and CIO officers on November 26 and released without charge. The same number was arrested on November 9 and two others on 31 October.

The University of Zimbabwe said it had no comment on the students' petition.
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