HARARE — The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) says it opposes calls to postpone the University of Zimbabwe’s graduation ceremony, arguing the move would harm students who have endured strikes and missed lectures to complete their studies.
“This statement comes in light of statements and court processes where the Association of University Teachers (AUT) … has called for the postponement of the University of Zimbabwe graduation,” ZINASU Secretary General Emmanuel Devine Nyakudya said.
“As students, we have always stood with AUT,” he said. “At one point, we were arrested and even suspended from the institution due to our activism for better remuneration for these lecturers. This shows our commitment to their fight — our fight.”
However, Nyakudya said delaying the graduation “is in every way detrimental to the students’ interests,” adding it “discredits the work done by students and ultimately lowers the credibility of this particular cohort.”
He said students could not afford additional costs if the event were pushed back. “The students we view as heroes should graduate and be able to focus on the next part of their lives,” Nyakudya said.
ZINASU also criticized the country’s higher education system, saying “the education system at the University of Zimbabwe and nationwide has decayed beyond repair.” The union called on the government, the Ministry of Education, and the university to “sit down and address this rot” and ensure lecturers receive “a working and meaningful living wage that is worth their time and expertise.”
