Student Politics

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

Broken door with missing glass panes

In a statement posted on Facebook, a former NUST student RodwellTendaiNyika said

“As a certified apostle for student emancipation from the yoke of all forms of repression, oppression and academic slavery I was highly besotted to note some empty riposte which was vomited by our former President Luckie Shingi Muza in his capacity as a self-appointed political referee,the co-accused and a supposed hired highly paid human manure cleaner for his for blindfolded former disciple Mark Mubvumba”

His statements sheds light on one of the key bodies or individuals that are at the core of decay in tertiary institutions, the SRC. The Student Representative Council SRC is to blame for most if not all the problems that students face because they don’t live up to their manifestos.

Often the body is riddled by corrupt and power hungry students who don’t have students concerns at heart, all they care about is amassing wealth from misappropriated student funds.

The body has constantly been known for abusing funds, “browning” using student funds as well as exploitation of most female students who flock in their numbers wanting a fair share of the “loot”.

This has resulted in the state of the institution deteriorating to a point where it no longer inspire confidence in students. The shabby exterior and interior with broken dysfunctional equipment and leaking pipes has become a common phenomenon at our institution.

 The lecture rooms and theatres are epitomizing the decline of this country's once proud education system, food for thought.

NUST, touted as the Jewel of the country, is slowly acquiring a reputation of the sick man within the vicinity of campus boundaries, at this pace the institution will acquire peculiar inability to get itself out of often self-inflicted difficulties

Broken windows at the institution.

If one is to look at who is to blame for all this this decay it all comes back to a bunch of individuals who have been mandated to represent students but have since retired into the Student Affairs offices where they plan to “squander”

However, what should be done?

• Introduce an all-inclusive administrative method of solving student’s prioritized concerns, especially pertaining to the issue of registration and admission into exams. I want to establish a body that acknowledges that the SRC is a platform for all students and not a podium for a select few. 

• Address all accommodation woes faced by students living outside campus.

• Bring out dynamic entertainment and recreational activities at all levels. I will ensure that there is fair representation on entertainment and recreational activities, especially in dealing with secular entrainment and Christian entertainment.

• Ensure that there is freedom of worship, that there are designated places for worship which will not be disturbed under any circumstance.

• Ensure that there is improved security for students living outside campus.

• Make sure that there is an improved network infrastructure which is not only at the service of the administration but also the students.

• Being visible on the ground and working from a Grass root level whilst also pushing student driven policies at top level. The SRC should be dedicated to building student capacity in all areas

• Provide transparent governance to all students .I understand that students are the heart of the university and I am committed to tackling fundamental student issues whilst representing all student voices.

If these minor problems are addressed properly it leaves room for the body to focus on more important issues