An Open Letter to President Mugabe on The 13th Graduation Ceremony at NUST.
07 October 2007
Your Excellency; Mr. R.G Mugabe
Salutation; President of the Republic of Zimbabwe
the Chancellor of NUST
We, the students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) would like to express our great concern on the state of Education in the country. On the 12th of October 2007, you will be capping half baked Graduands at the 13th Graduation Ceremony at NUST whom only attended Lectures for less than 30% of their stipulated learning time. This was because your Government's failure to address the multi-faceted socio-economic and political crisis bedeviling our beloved Zimbabwe.
The learning environment is not conducive as students endure days without meals, high tuition fees, accommodation shortage, lecturers exodus, shortage of books and learning equipment. We would like to remind you that Library at NUST is still under construction and the university is 25% complete 17 years after its establishment. 2007 will be remembered as the year when students just went for exams without learning as Lecturers were on strike.
We gravely concerned by your governments' treatment on student activists and human rights defenders. Thousands of students are either expelled,suspended, arbitrarily arrested, detained tortured or killed for demanding better Education. Your Government has surpassed the fascist Smith regime in violating human rights. This shocks us especially considering that your Government came on the premise of liberating its people.
The country is at the cross roads.
I remain,
Clever Bere
Students' Union President
National University of Science and Technology