Midlands State University (MSU) students staged a demonstration yesterday over the institution’s decision to bar some of them from writing end of semester examinations that start today because of fees arrears.
MSU security personnel were involved in running battles with the students who protested through song and dance outside the administration bloc, before they stormed Vice Chancellor Professor Victor Muzvidziwa’s office. Police was called in to contain the situation after some of the students turned violent.
MSU public relations director Mrs Mirirai Mawere told The Herald that the demonstration was done by an insignificant number of students. She said the university has been lenient enough to allow students who are paid up to last semester to write exams. Said Mrs Mawere:
The notices were a way of making students who have not been paying fees for some time to come up with a payment plan. We have over 20 000 students, but an insignificant number demonstrated over the decision. We have been lenient as an institution, taking cognisance of the prevailing economic situation and said those who are paid up to last semester can write exams. These are some of the lenient measures that any institution would put for students to make a commitment, but if you come tomorrow everything would be normal, students will be writing their exams.
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