Lupane University locks out students over fees arrears

THERE was chaos at the Lupane State University (LSU) in Matebeleland North on Monday when authorities blocked several students from writing their end of semester examinations over unpaid fees.

Southern Eye heard that students were asked to produce clearance forms or receipts before being allowed into the examination room.

"We had to go to accounts for them to check on our portals. We were told that the system was down and there was nothing that could be done. This happened while others had already started the same exams  and we were still negotiating," said a student who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.

Matebeleland North Province Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union provincial secretary-general Mthulisi Nkala said they held a meeting with the senior assistant  registrar on the matter.

"My argument with him was why hinder us from writing the exams when they know we will not be able to access the results since we will not have paid the fees. It does not make any sense that we attend all the lectures and manage to pull through the whole semester, and then we get denied entry to the final exams," Nkala said.

Nkala said there was need for the students' rights to be observed by the school authorities.

LSU spokesperson Densen Kulube said: "As far as I am concerned, everything is normal; there is no protest in the institution."