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Food riot by students forces closure of UZ

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The University of Zimbabwe was yesterday closed after demonstrations rocked the main campus when the institution failed to provide food to hungry students.

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) was yesterday closed after demonstrations rocked the main campus when the institution failed to provide food to hungry students.

BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA

The development comes at a time lecturers at many State universities — among them Midlands State University and Great Zimbabwe University — have gone on strike demanding their February salaries.

There were running battles with students as anti-riot police tried to stop them from marching into town to demonstrate over failure to give them breakfast and stoppage of lessons after lecturers went on strike.

UZ vice-chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura allegedly fled from the angry students while a bread van was reportedly nearly looted. President of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union Gilbert Mutubuki said students were demanding food and grants that were last paid in 2003.

“Students are demanding their grants from the vice-chancellor and the President who is the Chancellor of all State universities. We are not going to stop the demonstrations until they listen to our concerns,” said Mutubuki.

“We have not had breakfast because all the staff is on strike and we have not had any lectures because the lecturers are also on strike. Universities around the country will also be staging their own demonstrattions with the National University of Science and Technology staging theirs at 3pm today (yesterday). I am travelling to Gweru to lead the demonstrations at Midlands State University while Great Zimbabwe University will be holding their own protest soon,” added Mutubuki.

At 3pm yesterday hundreds of students started trooping out after the university authorities closed the institution.

According to a letter from UZ registrar Sergeant Chevo, lectures will resume on March 25. “The UZ is on recess from March 17 2015 to Tuesday 24 March 2015 in order to address issues that require immediate attention,” Chevo said in a statement.

“All students are expected to vacate the halls of residence and the university campus with immediate effect by not later than 3pm today March 17 2015.”

Mutubuki said over 200 students were caught unaware and had no transport to travel to their homes.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers’ for Human Rights warned authorities against ejecting students from the halls of residence saying this was a violation of human rights.

“You are further aware that these students have already paid their accommodation and food levies to the university. Most of them have nowhere to go and your immediate decision to eject them exposes them to the risk of criminals on the streets and prostitution among other evils which may visit them in their desperate situation,” the lawyers said in a letter to UZ.