Students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) have gone on strike and placed the institution under lockdown by barricading the roads leading to the institution. The students say they have gone for four weeks without lectures as the lecturers are on strike. The students have blocked Beitbridge Road and Cecil Avenue.
Lecturers have been on strike as well as they are protesting against the alleged mismanagement of resources at the institution since the beginning of the semester in early February.
Part of the letter written by the Students Representative Council to the students reads:
When the ordinary becomes extraordinary, fearless confrontation becomes the sole option at our disposal. Dialogues between the SRC, admin and NUSTEDA have failed to bring back normalcy to our institution, it’s now almost 4 weeks without lectures. To that end, the only apt solution at our disposal is to confront the admin.
Allow me to state with precision, certainty and without any intention of throwing you into jeopardy that the only medicine to cure this perennial administration neurosis is unity of purpose and direction amongst the NUST Students. In that. regard we call all progressive students to come together as we SHUTDOWN NUST tomorrow, all revolutionary cadres should be on campus at exactly 6:00 am for a briefing meeting.
NO STUDENT IS ALLOWED ON CAMPUS, WE WILL ALL COME TOGETHER OUTSIDE THE NUST GATES AS A UNITED FORCE AND FIGHT FOR OUR BIRTHRIGHT FROM THERE. ON CAMPUS MINISTRIES WE APPRECIATE THE PRAYERS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING FOR US, NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.
Update:
The Zimbabwe Republic Police reacted by sending riot police and water cannons to disperse the protesting students. The police are reported to have responded in a heavy manner by beating up students as well as spraying them with chemical water. Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (Zicosu) president Mr Tafadzwa Gambiza said close to 50 students were arrested.
