Own Correspondent|Human rights activists and students in Masvingo rejected Auxillia Mnangagwa’s traditional cooking workshop arguing the project was disrupting learning programmes.
There was pandemonium at Masvingo Polytechnic last week as students and human rights defenders refused to be intimidated by Mrs Mnangagwa’s security team.
Citizens in Action Africa Human rights defender and former student leader Archieford Mudzengi, came to the students’ rescue as Mrs Mnangagwa literary seized facilities at Masvingo Polytechnic.
Students were chucked out of the campus to pave way for the First Lady’s dried vegetables (mufushwa) project.
Mai Mnangagwa was embarrassed after students complained that her program was consuming their time.
As commotion ensued, Mudzengi addressed students outlining how fundamental their right to education was.
Several issues came up with the institution denying students part tuition fees payment, security guards chasing away learners and denying students access to internet.
With all grievances coming up Mudzengi then coordinated the signing of a petition to hand over to the First Lady.
However, Mrs Mnangagwa orderd anti-riot police to pounce on the students.
After Spending the whole year without learning, students were happy to pursue their programs of choice when schools were opened on the 22nd of march only to be turned away as the elephant in Mrs Mnangagwa had taken over the institution.
Students were denied entry with most complaining they had to beat deadlines as they are engaged in crush programs to cover up for lost time. Hundreds of students were denied entry affecting even the intended beneficiaries to the first lady teachings. This did go down well with the students who waited at the campus entrance registering disgruntlement. In no time a renowned Human rights defender and activist who is also a former student leader Archieford Mudzengi assumed leadership and addressed the students outlining how fundamental their right to education is.
Mudzengi also touched on the need for students to air out their concerns pertaining to tuition fees paying to the First Lady’s office which was present since the college was denying part payments. At this point the students defied the restriction and forcefully entered the campus where they requested an interface with the first lady who vehemently refused and had to summon anti-riot police to pounce genuine students.
Several students were arrested and taken to Masvingo central Police Station. The First Lady had to sneak out of campus under heavy security escort to avoid further embarrassment.
