Lupane State University Students Arrested For Staging Demonstration

Six Lupane State University (LSU) students were yesterday arrested during a demonstration in Bulawayo.

The students were protesting against poor service and being excluded from lessons after failing to raise registration fees. Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the arrested students will appear in court soon. He said the students were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Responding to the incident, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister Professor Amon Murwira urged university students struggling to pay fees to apply for education loans as non-payment of fees can ruin the higher and tertiary education sector. He said his Ministry is finalising a $8 million risk fund loan facility which was included in the national budget. Last week LSU students were barred from attending lectures and accessing university infrastructure if they had not paid $350 registration fees.