NUST STUDENTS LOCKED IN THE LIBRARY BASEMENT

About eight NATIONAL University of Science and Technology (Nust) students on Wednesday were locked up in the library basement as they refused to leave the library before 9pm.

The library staff is reported to have told students to leave the library at 4pm, but they insisted that the library closed at 9pm and they would not leave.

"There were about 8 students and the majority were part four's from the Journalism and Media Studies department.They said they were shocked after packing their things and prepared to leave the basement at 4:55 p.m., only to find the doors locked," said a student who witnessed the event but denied to be named

The students and the staff are reported to have exchanged harsh words, before the learners left the main library to continue studying in the building’s basement.

But the staff members would have none of it and locked the premises, and left.

After a while, the students, realising they had been locked in, called police officers, telling them they had been held hostage by the library staff.

Other students said they were threatened and told that they would be suspended for their actions of refusing to leave the library and they would be expelled from the institution.

Contacted for comment, Zimbabwe National Students’ Union provincial chairperson Alistar Pfunye said students were right to demand the use of the library, as they had paid for the facility.

“Students are correct and they must be treated fairly by library staff members because the same workers would have been on the streets selling airtime and tomatoes had the students not been there,” he said.

Over the last week, staff from various tertiary institutions have gone on strike, demanding their salaries and last year’s bonuses.

SOCIAL SCENE

Students at a party

Student relaxing

students partying in town

Unidentified students dance together

NUST LECTURERS GO ON STRIKE AGAIN

NUST

National University of Science and Technology (Nust) lecturers have resolved to go on strike again following government's failure to pay February salaries.

This is not the first time that the Nust Educators Association (Nusteda), the body representing the lecturers and the university's administration have clashed over unpaid salaries and allowances.

The strike would mainly affect convectional programmes and Master’s Degree students.

Students at the institution have however said the lecturers are already on go-slow while others have started not attending lectures.

This lawful collective job action commenced on 16 March 2015 with some of the lecturers turning away students.

Lecturers will go back to work once they have been paid.

Representatives of lecturers are in the process of issuing a notification for strike over bonuses and March salaries.

A two week notification period is required for a strike.

In March last year, Nust academic staff went on strike and abandoned parallel and masters' classes after the university management allegedly failed to pay them for their services.

ZUSA GAMES ON THE CARDS

Z.U.S.A Calendar 2015

The Zimbabwe University Sports Association (ZUSA) will hold its zonal ball games this March competitions to build momentum ahead of the tertiary institutions' finals set for May.

ZUSA President, Liberty Maidza said the competition will descend on NUST and University of Zimbabwe(UZ) Universities.

Zone A will be at  University of Zimbabwe alongside the, Women’s University, Catholic University and Harare Institute of Technology (HIT).

Zone B will be at NUST where the hosts will compete with Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University as well as Lupane State University.

The ZUSA finals to be staged from the 3rd to the 5th of May will select the university representatives for the Zimbabwe Tertiary Institutions Sports Union ZTISU games which will come at the end of May.

The university teams expect the marathon competitions to hype up momentum ahead of the Universities World Games which will be held in Korea this July.

INTERFACULTY GAMES BEACON

Interfaculty games banner

Newest season of Inter Faculty games is upon us. NUST is warming up to retain most of the titles the won last year while University of Zimbabwe(UZ) , Midlands State University(MSU), Chinhoyi University of Technology(CUT) and other universities are firing up to pry away the top prize from NUST.

 The competitions are a great way to prepare for the Zimbabwe University Sports Association (ZUSA) games and create a sense of loyalty towards the Faculty. The Faculties are small communities in themselves with their own distinctive character and atmosphere. Faculty loyalty is very strong and the many annual Facultycompetitions are keenly contested in a spirit of intense, but friendly, rivalry.

There is a whole variety of Faculty competitions available, all of which can see students win money. The sporting disciplines which on the menu include Football, Hockey, Swimming, Karate, Golf, Basketball, Atheletics, Chess, Darts … the list goes on. It is this aspect of the Faculty system that students remember with great fondness. 

NUST SRC PRAISES CHANCELLOR

Gift presented by NUST SRC to the Chancellor

NUST SRC presented a shield to the Chancellor of all State Universities in appreciation of an unparalleled promotion of education in Zimbabwe.

The shield was  presented during President Mugabe's lavish birthday bash in Victoria falls over the weekend.

SRC President Shadowlit Sidija Ndou said " it was a token of appreciation to our Chancellor for an  unmatched performance in education especially at tertiary level."

STRIKE CONTINUES

Almost a week has elapsed since lecturers at Zimbabwe’s state universities began their strike over non-payment of last years’ bonuses and delay in payment of their January salaries.

Government’s failure to pay civil servants is well-known by now but what staggers the mind is the docile climate that has come to characterise state universities. It is compelling to write off student activism as a phenomenon past its prime. Student activism used to be no mean power broker in Zimbabwe during the 1990s. When students used to project freely themselves the government used to listen to their clamour. The power that used to be associated with student leaders was something to be considered by the government when dealing with issues critical for the smooth-running of education system, including the lecturers’ welfare.

Lecturers strike for their own cause, being non-payment by the government not students but if the Student Representative Councils (SRCs) thorough across state universities could come together and fight in solidarity with the lecturers whose rights the government is trampling on, it would be for the good of our higher education system.

The strike by lecturers is an academic battle to restore the dignity and value that was once associated with our education system.

If the SRC leaders were bused to Mazowe to endorse Grace Mugabe whose fast-track PHD is still a talk in Zimbabwe’s academic circles, why should the same “patriotic” student leaders remain quiet when professionals with authentic credentials are being stripped naked by the government.

What is so academic about Grace Mugabe’s accession to the post of secretary of ZANU-PF women’s league?

What is so academic about the relationship between ZINASU and MDC Renewal?

It is not only shameful but uncalled for to see future leaders fight for association in old-fashioned political entities which are not only retrogressive but have DNAs that disregard youthful vitality.

It would be no surprise if the Zimbabwe Congress of Student Organisation (ZICCOSO) was to send a solidarity message to Finance Minister Chinamasa for failing to avail funds to cater for the lecturers’ welfare on time.

It is pathetic to see the once vibrant ZINASU waiting in mendicant fashion for donors and MDC formations to pour in money for them to realise their founding principles and values.

Our “future leaders” have become copies of the old establishment self-evident but shameful reasons.

Student leaders are now frontiers of political parties not the students they claim to represent.

University students continue to multiply but instead of uniting into a relevant voice that the government can hear, their unions are an unpleasant discord.

The political economy of these unions has turned them into stooges who know nothing as to why they exist.

ZICCOSO waits for the order to strike from ZANU-PF’s commissariat department while ZINASU waits for anyone to give its grease its leaders’ hands for them to wake up to their mandate.

The shameful results are self-evident, that is, the downgrade of our once prestigious higher learning system.

This semester is a decider for thousands of destinies. Dissertations are mid-course and it is the time when students are in the most critical need for lecturers.

When lecturers come back for work, we are likely to see a marathon teaching style where students are going to be taught how to pass exams rather than critical engagement with concepts and theories that apply to their different disciplines.

This partly explains why our universities are now producing half-baked graduates a matter that has been raised by a number of mainstream media.

The development has been attributed to high enrollments exceeding the capacity of lecturers who are up against poor working conditions.

This should be a cause for concern for Zimbabwean students.

It is time students came together to chart a new chapter, with the restoration of dignity in our education system as a starting point.

Student leaders should come out of the decaying institutions in which they are helping to destroy their own future and face reality.

NUST STUDENTS PETITIONS DEAN

Students at NUST have petitioned the dean of students over allegations that Students Representative Council (SRC) Leader, Shadowlit Sidija Ndou, abused funds meant to cater for the students who attended President Robert Mugabe's birthday party in Victoria Falls two weeks ago. 

In a petition at our disposal, the students appealed to the Dean, Dr Kamusoko, to authorise investigations into Ndou's case as required by the student's constitution. 

The petitioners said allegations levelled against Ndou do not reflect the aspiration, constitutional values, motives and patriotism of the student union and were tarnishing the image of the institution hence need for an investigation.

"Ordinance No. 30 (AMENDED 2006), deals with the rules of student conduct and Chapter 3, Section 1, Sub-section 4 makes it explicit that, the actions of any student, reasonably likely to be harmful to the interests of the University, members of the University Staff and Students shall be investigated by the university," reads the petition. "Madam Dean, the allegations levelled against our president are not of any good to our institution, honestly there is a need for an investigation."

In relation to the reports in the media on allegations laid against Ndou, the students said the reports portray NUST as a thievery institution where student leaders have developed a culture of getting away with voluminous amounts of money, meant for the students. 

"This is not the ideal NUST we all joined Madam Dean. It will be a crime against humanity if such a culture is left unchecked," pleaded the students through the petition. 

The students also urged the dean to set up an audit to ensure that due process of the law is followed. 
The petition quotes article 11.2 of the student constitution which empowers the Vice President of the student board to inspect and examine all financial records within the custody of the treasurer. They called for the Vice President to be allowed to exercise his constitutional right. 

They also called for an immediate return to the constitution and enforce the provisions which punish those who go against the laws stipulated in it. 

"In the face of the allegations levelled against our president, Madam Dean we plead for an immediate return to constitutionalism, to return to our valued norms that are enshrined in our constitution, where the students union is bound by love, peace, democracy progress and the elimination of all forms of racism, backwardness, self-enrichment agendas by elected members of the union," reads the petition.

Ndou is alleged to have swindled the students of more than US $3000 after receiving a sum of about US $6000 from the institution, which was transferred by the institution into his personal account.

This is despite the fact that the constitution of student stipulates that the money should be transferred into the Treasury's account. 

The Treasurer as the custodian of the account therefore has to ensure that all funds allocated to the SRC are spent as directed by the SRC and the proper and accurate records of all receipts and expenditure are kept. 

In a recent interview with Chronicle, NUST Spokesperson, Felix Moyo said the institution has already launched a probe into Ndou's case.

"There is an on-going audit over the matter, let it take its course. This is student politics and students are supposed to govern themselves," Said Moyo.

NUST STUDENTS BAYING FOR SRC LEADER'S HEAD

President Robert Mugabe and the SRC President Shadowlit Sidija Ndou

Students at the National University of Science and Technology have called for the immediate resignation of SRC president Shadowlit Ndou following serious allegations that he squandered more than  US$3 000 which was meant to cater for  accommodation of about 70 students who attended President Mugabe's lavish birthday bash in Victoria falls over the weekend.

Precious Dzigwe, secretary for education in the SRC, said that Mr. Ndou has to step down as the SRC president as he is bringing the name of the institution into disrepute.

"We cannot create a hive of thieves at a respected institution like this. He must step down with immediate effect and as a result we are mobilizing students to pass a vote of no confidence on him," said Dzigwe.

Another student at NUST, Talent Magara, urged students to boycott all activities at the institution which are being bankrolled by the SRC saying participation in these activities will be tantamount to endorsing Mr. Ndou's thievery and tomfoolery.

"As students we are saying Shadow has stretched our patience to the limit. We have insinuated our hearts; we are even ready to confront him heads on. Students should boycott every forthcoming activity which is spearheaded by him and his bunch of bootlickers. Miss NUST pageant and the inter-faculty games scheduled for next week must be boycotted. We cannot continue giving him room for theft through these functions," said Magara who is also ZINASU treasury general at NUST.

Another SRC member who requested anonymity alleged that Mr. Ndou proposed for $6 420 from the institution, but the institution through the Vice chancellors' vote gave him $5 784 but he only used a paltry $2 000 out of the whole sum of money.

The SRC member further alleged that Mr. Ndou confined in him that he abused the funds together with other SRC members who attended the jamboree but he took the lion's share as the SRC boss enraging his lieutenants who are now leaking the information to the students. 

We are reliably informed that the institution transferred the sum of money into Ndou's bank account instead of the treasurer's account as per procedure. 

Contacted for comment Mr. Ndou confirmed that the money was deposited into his personal account.

"As the custodian of the SRC there is nothing wrong with the money being transferred into my personal account, since the treasurer wasn't going to the celebrations. I channeled the money towards accommodation not what my detractors are imagining," he said.

However, a student who attended the President's birthday bash but declined to be named for fear of reprisal said all 70 students were stranded in Victoria Falls because Ndou just gave them $3 each from the whole sum of money he was given by the institution.

"We slept in the bus on Friday and mosquito fisted on us," narrated the student.

Commenting on this issue which is now "a–talk-of- the-campus", another SRC member Paddington Madyira said there is nothing new in Ndou's monkeyshines since other members of the student body from the VP, Treasurer, Secretary General and other councilors are also thieves who are also looting funds meant for student welfare but only angry because Ndou ate the cake which there were also enviously eying.

"During the club expo exhibition which was held recently here at campus, a sum of $600  which was meant to award competing students was kept and the VP Nelson Gwarare demanded $300 from that amount, a thing that  didn't please other members who wanted it to be evenly shared. Therefore for them to say Shadow must go because he is the only thief that's utter lies. They just want to create a greater opportunity for them to access the coffers which Ndou is guarding jealously," fumed Madyira.

This is not the first time that SRC leaders at NUST have diverted funds to their personal use. In 2012, former SRC leader Lovejoy Nikisingorima stranded students at Chinhoyi University when they went for ZUSA games. 

More interestingly, is how these student leaders brag for their political backings when confronted by students over their corrupt tendencies and shenanigans.

See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-local-byo-63849.html#sthash.6k1m92dc.dpuf

NUST SRC PRESIDENT UNDER FIRE

NUST SRC PRESIDENT SHADOWLIT SIDIJA NDOU

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Student Representative Council (SRC) President Mr Shadowlit Sidija Ndou, is under fire after allegedly embezzling more than $5,000 , during the  celebrations of 91st birthday of  President Robert Mugabe in Victoria falls .

The scandlous SRC leader stands accused of misappropriating money secured from the Vice Chancellors vote which was meant for the 68 students who had been selected to go and represent NUST at the birthday celebrations. 

In an interview with NUST STUDENT VOICE, Ndou claimed that he used some of the money which was directly transfered into his personal account to pay for accommodation at Adventure Lodge for the students who were on their way to Victoria Falls.

However, one of the students who went to Victoria Falls, Tracy said; "we did not sleep at Adventure Lodge the first night because we arrived in morning around am."

SRC members as well as NUST students have since filed a petition in which they are demanding that the SRC President steps down with immediate effect as well as clarity on what really transpired with the money that was meant for the students.

Efforts to solicit comment from SRC Treasury General were fruitless, as he refused to comment amid revelations that the President had allegedly promised to bribe him with $900.

NUST STUDENT VOICE is reliably informed that students only received $3 which was meant for lunch in Hwange on their return trip.

Students who attended the birthday celebrations expressed their disappointment at how they were treated and the lack of order on part of NUST student leaders who were in Victoria Falls.

One student who spoke on grounds of anonymity said " the SRC sneaked in other students to go, students who were not on the initial list of selected students, they squandered money buying beer on our way back while they had failed to buy lunch the previous day and breakfast that morning"

This is not the first time that allegations of embezzling money have been leveled against  the SRC leader. There are several incidents in which he has been implicated in misappropriation of funds. Ndou allegedly part of the crew that swindled students money in Chinhoyi during the ZUSA games. Further, the President is accused of purloining funds which were meant for SIFE.

In a statement, before the SRC elections the former Acting Dean of Students Mrs S. Magida warned students about voting Ndou into office because "he cannot be trusted with money."

However, Ndou said he will release the figures of the money that he was given and how much he used after the SRC meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

NUST, ZIMRA TEAM UP AGAINST THE LOSS OF REVENUE

Internal Controls, Fraud Detection and Prevention Seminar

The NUST Centre for ContinuingEducation (CCE) recently conducted a seminar on Internal Controls and Fraud detection for senior Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in a move to curb the loss of revenue by the nation. 

The seminar, held in Harare was facilitated by the Chairman of the Accounting Department, Mr. Dumisani Madzivanyati who noted that the main aim of then course was to ensure that ZIMRA stops leakages of revenue, finds new ways of collecting taxes and leave very little room for tax evasion.

“ZIMRA being the revenue collector for government, it must be a well-oiled machine at all times in order to achieve its mandate,” said Mr. Madzivanyathi. “The course covered issues such as internal controls and fraud detection from the basic technical methods to the modernized methods which are used internationally,” he added.

Special reference was made with emphasis on how to implement these effectively, weed out corruption and loopholes in the revenue collection system,” Madzivanyati highlighted.

NUST finds it essential to join efforts with industry and the Government to revive the economy in partial fulfillment of ZIMASSET.

“NUST-CCE and the Department of Accounting strive to create synergies with all spheres of industry and the ZIMRA seminar was the dawn of a great partnership with ZIMRA,” said Madzivanyati.

26 ZIMRA officials who are at senior management level attended the course.

Adapted from NUST newsletter

NUST STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL LOCATED

In the recently held NUST Student Representative Council (SRC) Orientation Convention, the SRC was singled out and demanded recognition as an important body within the University’s functions.

Addressing participants who included the SRC, the Division of Student Affairs and Senior University Managers, Ngqabutho Nhlabano sought to shed light on the importance of the SRC within the University structures and to encourage students to be fully committed to the roles that entail the Council at the same time attending to their studies.

 “As a member of the SRC, on should understand the Vision, Mission and Values of NUST,” said Nhlabano. “You need to understand the mandate of the SRC and locate yourself within it. One also needs to understand that they are students first before being a President, and should resist the temptation of being a full time politician and a part time student,” he noted. 

To clear the air on the role of the SRC as a body within the University, Nhlabano stated the main duties of the SRC as the body embarks on it its activities for the year. The SRC should:

•   Decide on policy of the Union on all internal and External Affairs
•  Control, Maintain and safe guard property of the Union.
•  Prepare in Consultation with the University Admin and approve annual estimates of the Union income and expenditure, submitted to the general meeting for approval and then to the University for approval by the University Council.

In his presentation, Nhlabano reiterated the need for the SRC to uphold the University’s values and ensure that all its activities fall within the SRC Constitution.

“The Constitution provides for student general meetings which are chaired by the President. General meetings are like any other meeting convened by other corporate firms.A general meeting is not a launch pad for a violent student demonstration. A general meeting should be constituted of registered NUST students, not suspended and expelled students, not former students, not youths from political parties, not members of ZINASU or ZICOSU, not hired thugs and muggers. A general meeting is not some get together party for ganja smokers, scud gobblers or those high on vereza, ngoma or some other drugs and alcohol. A general meeting is not some platform to denigrate and verbally assault members of the University Administration or the Government,” said Nhlabano who is also an ex-SRC member. The Orientation programme empowered the NUST SRC to perform their duties well for the betterment of the student body.

Adapted from Nust Newsletter