Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwean students seconded to study in Algeria as part of the widely hyped STEM programme are struggling to survive amid concerns that government has stopped giving them stipends, ZimEye can exclusively reveal.

This has left them vulnerable and without options to survive in a foreign land.

One of the students who exclusively spoke to ZimEye on condition of anonymity said they only enjoyed during the first days but have now been completely abandoned.

The student said their numerous attempts to seek audience with embassy officials were met with resistance as they instructed Algerian police to chase them away.

“Things are tough this side, the Zim government stopped giving us stipends, so have been really struggling.

We tried talking to the embassy but it seems every effort we make is just in vain, we even organized strikes at the embassy but it never works, they only respond by instructing the Algerian Police to chase away students from the embassy,” said the student.

With Zimbabwean economy currently in comatose and making it difficult for their parents to access foreign currency to them, the students have run out of options on how to survive in a foreign land.

The situation is worsened by the fact that they cannot look for jobs due to study permit limitations and economic challenges facing their host country.

“This time around the situation is even worse because it’s really difficult for parents to be accessing United States dollars back home. We have no idea how we are going to survive, especially now that Universities closed. We have to be buying food and doing everything on our own,” the student added.

“It would have been easier if it was possible to find jobs here so that we could at least get something but it’s not that easy In Algeria. We are held as students without work permits. How do we survive?” further queried the disgruntled student.