University of Zimbabwe not opening Monday due to high fees

By: Bettina Patzuda

SW Radio Africa (London) reports that almost 10.000 students from the University of Zimbabwe have failed to pay their fees for the first term of the academic year. This has forced the institution to postpone opening its doors on Monday next week.

At the moment 13.000 students are registered with the institution, so 95 percent would not have paid the required fees.

Lectures at the University of Zimbabwe started in january. But after authorities  asked the sudents to pay their fees of USD 200 in foreign currency, the institution was forced to close du to demonstrations.

According to Clever Bere, the President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), each student shall now pay at least USD 800 for this academic year. That is an amount most students simply cannot afford.

Bere said that the government’s attitude towards students was creating ground for conflict. Already many students have lost a year of studies following a series of clashes with university authorities.

original news by Tichaona Sibanda, 27 March 2009 (SW Radio Africa)