ALERT: HIT SRC President, 7 others suspended two days before exams on allegations of singing, Drum beating
The President (Leeroy Barnette), his lieutenant (Tafara Mutembedza), the SG (Ashlee Makaya) , former president (Saviour Machuwaire), former SG (Anesu Chigumhanzi) and 3 other students were on Friday afternoon suspended from school on allegations of drum beating and singing – two days before exams without a hearing!
In the letters dated 15 November 2019, the vice chancellor wrote “We write to inform you are suspended from your studies with immediate effect from your studies and stay (where applicable) at the Harare Institute of Technology in terms of the HIT Act Section 8 (3) (c), (d) and (e) arising from the allegation that on the 12th and 14th of November 2019 you were seen beating drums and singing in a disruptive manner”
The students were allegedly demonstrsting peacefully for basic commodities such as electricity, water,food and decent, affordable accomodation.
Since the beginning of this semester in August 2019, the institution has been failing to provide power to its 3000+ students powering only a small library that can hardly accommodate a 100 people.
Additionally, the university has largely ignored calls by out of residence students who have been appealing for it to help in their security and to engage with local landlords who are charging exorbitant prices as high as $50US or ZWL$1000 per month.
In typical fashion though, the authorities chose not address the students’ concerns but to suspend their leaders. Needless to say that the students have been suspended on hilarious charges,they were also dismissed without a hearing, even an unfair one.
We are working frantically so that our comrades can be able to prepare and write exams beginning on the 18th of November and have currently engaged ZLHR to assist us.
Help us to raise alarm and to push for the reversal of this barbaric decision to suspend students who are simply demanding for a better education.
For and on behalf of HIT Students,
Prince Gora
About the author
Prince Gora is a former HIT SRC member and a third year HIT student.
