News / National
5000 MSU students face accommodation challenges in Zvishavane
08 Feb 2016 at 05:49hrs | Views
About 5000 Midlands State University students who were moved from Gweru camps to Zvishavane are reportedly facing serious accommodation crisis as they are said to be using Shabane Mine offices.
This emerged in senate last week when senate Lilian Timveos asked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the issue.
" My question today is directed to the Vice President, Mnangagwa. I am happy that his rural home is also in Zvishavane. My question has to do with the policy that you used to move over 5 000 students from MSU to Zvishavane where there is no infrastructure and classes. I understand that they are using Shabanie Mine offices, they are failing to acquire accommodation, and they are always on the streets," she said. "When you were considering this policy, how were you hoping to address the situation because the infrastructure is not available and the students are requesting for accommodation at my place. So, how are we going to address this? I am seeking for your guidance as you are the Vice President of the country."
Mnangagwa said "I have heard the question that you had 200 pupils who came looking for accommodation. That is not the only challenge, even where they came from, MSU in Gweru, there are such challenges but we did not close the university because of that. Currently, other universities are following what MSU has done because waiting for the university to build infrastructure for the pupils will take years."
He said as a government, they agreed that each university and its council, if it can get companies to construct hospitals, a portion of the money paid for school fees can be used to pay the contractors. He said it is not the government that said students should go and learn in Zvishavane, it was the University.
"I think it is better for children to face challenges whilst being educated than for them to stay home. Although challenges are there but students are being empowered in terms of education whilst the challenges you have highlighted are being addressed. Like what you are saying that you had 200 pupils who came to you looking for accommodation; yes these are challenges we face. So, we should work as a united force and address these issues," he said.
This emerged in senate last week when senate Lilian Timveos asked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the issue.
" My question today is directed to the Vice President, Mnangagwa. I am happy that his rural home is also in Zvishavane. My question has to do with the policy that you used to move over 5 000 students from MSU to Zvishavane where there is no infrastructure and classes. I understand that they are using Shabanie Mine offices, they are failing to acquire accommodation, and they are always on the streets," she said. "When you were considering this policy, how were you hoping to address the situation because the infrastructure is not available and the students are requesting for accommodation at my place. So, how are we going to address this? I am seeking for your guidance as you are the Vice President of the country."
He said as a government, they agreed that each university and its council, if it can get companies to construct hospitals, a portion of the money paid for school fees can be used to pay the contractors. He said it is not the government that said students should go and learn in Zvishavane, it was the University.
"I think it is better for children to face challenges whilst being educated than for them to stay home. Although challenges are there but students are being empowered in terms of education whilst the challenges you have highlighted are being addressed. Like what you are saying that you had 200 pupils who came to you looking for accommodation; yes these are challenges we face. So, we should work as a united force and address these issues," he said.
Source - Byo24News
