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‘No exams until Mugabe resigns’: Zimbabwe students in mass boycott ‘No exams until Mugabe resigns’: Zimbabwe students in mass boycott
(about 1 hour later)
University of Zimbabwe students were doing last-minute revision, still savouring memories of the weekend’s jubilant march against Robert Mugabe, when the president went live on state TV to defy the nation and lay out his plans for staying in power.University of Zimbabwe students were doing last-minute revision, still savouring memories of the weekend’s jubilant march against Robert Mugabe, when the president went live on state TV to defy the nation and lay out his plans for staying in power.
Like most Zimbabweans, they expected it to be a resignation message from the 93-year-old. Mugabe has ruled the country since long before they were born, and in recent decades driven its economy into the ground, to the particular detriment of young people. Like most Zimbabweans, they had expected it to be a resignation message from the 93-year-old leader. Mugabe has ruled the country since long before they were born and in recent decades has driven its economy into the ground, to the particular detriment of young people.
“We were so angry, that was not cool,” said 19-year-old Rouvarashe of the unexpected defiance from a leader who had been under military house arrest for nearly a week. “We were expecting him to step down, those were the magic words.” “We were so angry, that was not cool,” 19-year-old Rouvarashe said of Mugabe’s unexpected defiance. “We were expecting him to step down, those were the magic words.”
And so they responded by going on strike, agreeing in a flurry of text messages to boycott exams the next day.And so they responded by going on strike, agreeing in a flurry of text messages to boycott exams the next day.
They gathered about half an hour before the first tests outside exam halls, singing and chanting “no exams until the president resigns”. None of the scheduled morning assessments went ahead.They gathered about half an hour before the first tests outside exam halls, singing and chanting “no exams until the president resigns”. None of the scheduled morning assessments went ahead.
Skipping tests might sound like the laziest and most self-indulgent of protests, a caricature of student activism, but missing exams puts degrees at risk. For the average student, marks from these exams account for about 15% of their final degree.Skipping tests might sound like the laziest and most self-indulgent of protests, a caricature of student activism, but missing exams puts degrees at risk. For the average student, marks from these exams account for about 15% of their final degree.
Young Zimbabweans graduate into a workforce grappling with up to 90% youth unemployment, so risking a lower class of degree is no small sacrifice. But all the students gathered at the protest said the chance of changing the government was more important than their academic prospects.Young Zimbabweans graduate into a workforce grappling with up to 90% youth unemployment, so risking a lower class of degree is no small sacrifice. But all the students gathered at the protest said the chance of changing the government was more important than their academic prospects.
“Its important for me to write an exam, but its also equally important for my nation to be redeemed,” said Admire Matarutse, 27. a real-estate marketing student.“Its important for me to write an exam, but its also equally important for my nation to be redeemed,” said Admire Matarutse, 27. a real-estate marketing student.
He said the students at the heart of the capital felt a responsibility to speak for poorer Zimbabweans who were isolated in rural areas.He said the students at the heart of the capital felt a responsibility to speak for poorer Zimbabweans who were isolated in rural areas.
“As much as we want to get our degrees, as much as we prepared for the exams, what we are doing is important for the rest of the nation too,” he said. “As much as we want to get our degrees, as much as we prepared for the exams, what we are doing is important for the rest of the nation too,” he said. “There are some people in villages whose voices are not heard – we need to speak for them.”
“There are some people in villages whose voices are not heard – we need to speak for them.”
Other students at the protest shrugged off the economic sacrifice, pointing out that the jobs market was so dire that their degrees felt almost worthless.Other students at the protest shrugged off the economic sacrifice, pointing out that the jobs market was so dire that their degrees felt almost worthless.
“Why should we go to school if our brothers and sister graduated before us and are still unemployed,” said Gerald, 19, who said his three older siblings were jobless graduates. “Why should I work hard for a degree?”“Why should we go to school if our brothers and sister graduated before us and are still unemployed,” said Gerald, 19, who said his three older siblings were jobless graduates. “Why should I work hard for a degree?”
Much of the anger was directed at Mugabe, who is chancellor of the university as well as leader of Zimbabwe. But students were also frustrated about a doctorate handed to his wife, Grace Mugabe, in 2014. Much of the anger was directed at Mugabe, who is chancellor of the university as well as leader of Zimbabwe. But students were also frustrated about a doctorate awarded to Mugabe’s wife, Grace, in 2014.
A former typist who met the president when working in his office, she is more than years younger than her husband. In 2011 she picked up an undergraduate degree from a Chinese university, with her studies apparently carried out while commuting from Harare. She was awarded the doctorate just three years later. A former typist who met the president when working in his office, she is more than 40 years younger than her husband. In 2011 she picked up an undergraduate degree from a Chinese university, having apparently carried out her studies while commuting from Harare. She was awarded the doctorate by Harare University three years later.
It was an academic doctorate that requires study, rather than an honorary one bestowed as an award, and three years would be a record speed of study and research even for an outstanding student. It was an academic doctorate that requires study, rather than an honorary one bestowed as an award, and three years would be a record rate of study and research even for an outstanding student. But Grace Mugabe was never seen at university, nor did she file a copy of her thesis in the university library as other PhD students must do.
But Grace Mugabe was never seen at university, nor did she file a copy of her thesis in the university library as the other PhD students must do. “The integrity of this university was compromised when they awarded the degree to Grace,” said Presley Zirereza, a social work undergraduate. “Degrees are not awarded, they are earned. We have never seen her in our libraries or around our school. So that degree must be withdrawn.”
“The integrity of this university was compromised when they awarded the degree to Grace,” said Presley Zirereza, a social work undergraduate.
“Degrees are not awarded they are earned. We have never seen her in our libraries, or around our school. So that degree must be withdrawn.”
Many said they were thrilled by the sudden freedom to protest, after a lifetime in which challenging the government was likely to bring expulsion or worse.Many said they were thrilled by the sudden freedom to protest, after a lifetime in which challenging the government was likely to bring expulsion or worse.
“As social workers, we are seeing social action in practice for the first time,” said Mago Stanislous, 20, a classmate of Zirereza. “Its part of our curriculum, but it had never been implemented in Zimbabwe before.” “As social workers, we are seeing social action in practice for the first time,” said Zirereza’s classmate Mago Stanislous, 20. “Its part of our curriculum, but it had never been implemented in Zimbabwe before.”
They protests are expected to continue if Mugabe refuses to back down. The powerful association of former liberation fighters that helped organise Saturday’s massive demonstration has already called Zimbabweans back on to the streets. The protests are expected to continue if Mugabe refuses to back down. The association of former liberation fighters that helped to organise Saturday’s massive demonstration has already called Zimbabweans back on to the streets.
Parliament is expected to start impeachment proceedings on Tuesday afternoon, and the war veterans’ leader, Chris Mutsvangwa, said he wanted to see the city centre brought to a standstill by demonstrators while the legislators meet.Parliament is expected to start impeachment proceedings on Tuesday afternoon, and the war veterans’ leader, Chris Mutsvangwa, said he wanted to see the city centre brought to a standstill by demonstrators while the legislators meet.
“It will be a sit-in until Mugabe’s back is seen by the people of Zimbabwe,” he told journalists on Monday morning. “Mugabe, your rule is over. The emperor has no clothes.”“It will be a sit-in until Mugabe’s back is seen by the people of Zimbabwe,” he told journalists on Monday morning. “Mugabe, your rule is over. The emperor has no clothes.”