Zimpapers Logo

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
ANTI-riot police had to be called in to restore order at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) yesterday after students staged a demonstration against alleged mismanagement by the university’s top managers.

The demonstration follows the recent decision by students to engage lawyers to force the university to account for $1,5 million in students’ medical aid fees that has allegedly not been accounted for.

Last week, lecturers went on strike after accusing top managers of mismanagement and they only resumed work on Monday after Government intervened.

The lecturers accused the university’s management of splashing money on top of the range personal cars in the face of shortages of teaching and learning materials.

During yesterday’s demonstration, students demanded in vain to see the university’s acting Vice Chancellor Professor Samson Sibanda.

There was a standoff between the university’s security guards and students as students wanted to force their way into the university’s administration offices.

Anti-riot police were called in to disperse the protesting students.

The Chronicle news crew visited the institution at around 2PM and observed that the university’s security officers had barricaded the way to the administration block.

Nust’s communications and marketing officer Mrs Lindiwe Nyoni confirmed the incident.

“The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) called a meeting this afternoon and the agenda of the meeting was students’ medical aid, the alleged misappropriation of students’ funds and levies by administration and students learning environment,” said Mrs Nyoni.

She said nothing was amiss with the administration’s failure to immediately meet the students as due processes have to be followed before that happens.

“They had raised these issues prior to this and management acknowledges having received their concerns but they are processes that need to be done before a response is given to the students,” she said.

Nust’s SRC president, Mr Terency Shoko could not be reached for comment yesterday. — @nqotshili