A BOLD National University of Science and Technology (Nust) graduand yesterday cat-called at President Robert Mugabe during the institution’s graduation ceremony in Bulawayo.
BY KHANYILE MLOTSHWA
The tight security could not prevent the determined, but yet-to-be identified graduand from standing up on the balcony before shouting at Mugabe when the acting Nust vice-chancellor Samson Sibanda was about to deliver his speech.
It was, however, not clear what he was demanding, but his remarks were targeted at the 92-year-old leader.
The graduand shouted several times and only “president” was audible from what he was saying. He was immediately whisked away by the security from the podium setting the stage in commotion.
Mugabe and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo just looked at him and appeared unfazed as the drama unfolded. As the graduation proceeded, security details could be seen seated among the graduands.
In September, Mugabe was publicly shamed, as University of Zimbabwe (UZ) graduates protested at the institution’s graduation ceremony demanding jobs.
Former Zimbabwe National Students’ Union president Tonderai Dombo led the protests after raising a placard demanding jobs, as Mugabe was getting ready to cap more than 3 000 students.
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Dombo stood on his chair facing Mugabe and raised a placard with the words: “Graduates today, marovha mangwana (loafers tomorrow), tipei mabasa (give us jobs).”
Dombo, Thembinkosi Rushwaya and Alexander Mukamba were arrested and fined $10 for criminal nuisance.
Meanwhile, Sibanda said the institution was battling to achieve 50/50 gender parity in terms of enrolment.
Speaking at the university’s 22nd graduation ceremony, Sibanda said the university had enrolled 2 096 students for the 2016/2017 academic year.
“Of these new students, 1 222, which represents 58,3% of the enrolment, are in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programmes,” he said.
“The rest are in the non-STEM disciplines. (Some) 921 of the new students are females representing 44% of the new enrolments.”
