HANDS OFF UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE SRC ELECTIONS 2013!

SRC Presidium (L to R)Lenin Chisaira and Agency Gumbo

 

It is with great displeasure that the Students Union, democratically represented in the SRC and Student Executive Council (SEC), has taken this time to communicate its concerns regarding the running of the SRC Elections 2013.The current SRC Presidium consisting of Cdes Lenin Chisaira(Vice President) and Cdes Agency Gumbo(President) have since written the following concerns to the administration.

Background and Concerns

The Nomination Courts for this election met on the 12^th of April 2013(for Student Representative Assembly (SRA) candidates) and the 19^th of April 2013 (for Student Executive Council candidates). Candidates were vetted and approved by the Electoral Commission (EC), with SRA elections subsequently and smoothly taking place on the 23^rd of April with approved candidates.

The EC met again on the 19^th of April and approved candidates for SEC elections set for the 30^th April 2013.Then the whole nation saw the President endorsing a ZICOSU candidate Charles Munganasa on ZTV (Newshour 29^th April 2013) and in the front page of The Herald of 30^th April 2013.The student is not an SRC leader and for him to speak on behalf of UZ students was scandalous, fraudulent and defamatory to say the least. However to our utter dismay; late at night on the eve of the election certain notices appeared purporting to postpone the elections for logistical reasons. And on the 30^th the Dean of Students, Mr Munyaradzi Madambi disqualified 15 SEC Candidates including the Zinasu Presidential candidate Kokerai Murombo. He had no authority in terms of both the University of Zimbabwe Act and the Students Union Constitution. Hence a meeting with the Dean was held on the 2^nd of May 2013 and it was reiterated that the Students Union had grave concerns over the Students Affairs Dept’s unfortunate interference as well as ZANU PF’s and whoever else’s involvement in the University of Zimbabwe Students Union business. Unfortunately also since these unnecessary and mischievous interferences we have seen harassment of students aligned to Zinasu. A female student was detained at Avondale Police Station, another was detained at the Security Control Room and taunted over pictures that exposed security tearing off Zinasu posters as well as harassing Zinasu candidates but leaving Zicosu posters untouched or even releasing Zicosu candidates when taken over by junior security officials, these pictures are in the possession of the SRC as well as videos of ZanuPf youth being allowed free reign to address students in the Students UNION Building without the authority of the current SRC. The message from student activists and leaders must be very clear. Hands of our Students Union! Hands of our SRC elections. Solidarity Forever.

LENIN CHISAIRA

SRC VICE PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE-STUDENTS UNION