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ZINASU: the struggle continues 10 years on!
By Daniel Fortune Molokele
Last updated: 03/06/2007 04:54:28
THIS past week I took some time to reflect on the role I played in the setting up of the revived Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) in the late 1990s.
Last updated: 03/06/2007 04:54:28
THIS past week I took some time to reflect on the role I played in the setting up of the revived Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) in the late 1990s.
This was in light of the fact that the national student body has just successfully clocked its tenth year of legal existence. For the record, Zinasu was officially launched a national conference that was held at the University of Zimbabwe between February 28 and March 2, 1997.
Prior to that, Zinasu had managed to have its first short-lived existence in the late 1980s. However, by the time I arrived at the University of Zimbabwe in March 1995, the organisation had long gone dysfunct.
Prior to that, Zinasu had managed to have its first short-lived existence in the late 1980s. However, by the time I arrived at the University of Zimbabwe in March 1995, the organisation had long gone dysfunct.
According to legend, the main culprit that led to the collapse of the original body politic was the simple fact that it was completely dominated by the student leaders from the UZ. The many years of unbridled domination of Zinasu by the UZ cadres eventually led to the natural development of an apathetic stance from the other tertiary institutions.
Consequently, it soon became impossible for the UZ to continue to sustain the organisation's viable existence without the requisite support from other colleges. In fact, during those years of the 'death' of Zinasu, other colleges managed to continue to network via other formations such as the national network for polytechnics across the country.
During October 1995, I was elected as the Secretary General of the ill-fated and weak 1995-96 Students Representative Council (SRC) that was led by Shelton Mupambwa. Due to various miscalculated decisions, internal divisions and sheer bad luck, the presidency for that year did not stand the test of time.
It so happened that after some very violent demonstrations in April 1995, the UZ powers that be, decided to victimise both the President and his Vice, Ishmael Mandaza. The duo where initially suspended and then later expelled after some kangaroo disciplinary court hearings.
Subsequent to that, the remaining SRC members re-grouped and resolved to conduct a by-election so as to replace the expelled cadres. Thereafter, a reconstituted even weaker SRC was then set up with me as the Acting President and the Vice being Tirivanhu Chitongo.
It so happened that in July 1996, I was sent as part of a two men delegation of the UZ SRC at an international SRCs conference with one, Chipangavanhu Chikosha. The event was hosted by the University of Western Cape in South Africa. It was there at the same conference that I had contacts with various student formations in South Africa, Namibia, among other Southern African countries. In particular, I was so inspired by the achievements of the Namibian National Students Organisation (NANSO). It was also at the same conference that I first learnt about the existence of another crucial student organization, the Southern African Students Union (SASU).
Consequent to that conference, I resolved to make it a big priority for the UZ to reach out to other colleges in a renewed quest to revive the national student body. My plans to call a national indaba on the matter suffered a temporary setback when I was also suspended by the UZ authorities after weeks of demonstrations in July 1996. I was also suspended with one of my classmates at law school, Learnmore Judah Jongwe who was to later play a crucial role in the final stretch of the process of re-launching Zinasu. Fortuitously, our
suspension did not last long. We were re-instated after a few weeks.
Consequently, it soon became impossible for the UZ to continue to sustain the organisation's viable existence without the requisite support from other colleges. In fact, during those years of the 'death' of Zinasu, other colleges managed to continue to network via other formations such as the national network for polytechnics across the country.
During October 1995, I was elected as the Secretary General of the ill-fated and weak 1995-96 Students Representative Council (SRC) that was led by Shelton Mupambwa. Due to various miscalculated decisions, internal divisions and sheer bad luck, the presidency for that year did not stand the test of time.
It so happened that after some very violent demonstrations in April 1995, the UZ powers that be, decided to victimise both the President and his Vice, Ishmael Mandaza. The duo where initially suspended and then later expelled after some kangaroo disciplinary court hearings.
Subsequent to that, the remaining SRC members re-grouped and resolved to conduct a by-election so as to replace the expelled cadres. Thereafter, a reconstituted even weaker SRC was then set up with me as the Acting President and the Vice being Tirivanhu Chitongo.
It so happened that in July 1996, I was sent as part of a two men delegation of the UZ SRC at an international SRCs conference with one, Chipangavanhu Chikosha. The event was hosted by the University of Western Cape in South Africa. It was there at the same conference that I had contacts with various student formations in South Africa, Namibia, among other Southern African countries. In particular, I was so inspired by the achievements of the Namibian National Students Organisation (NANSO). It was also at the same conference that I first learnt about the existence of another crucial student organization, the Southern African Students Union (SASU).
Consequent to that conference, I resolved to make it a big priority for the UZ to reach out to other colleges in a renewed quest to revive the national student body. My plans to call a national indaba on the matter suffered a temporary setback when I was also suspended by the UZ authorities after weeks of demonstrations in July 1996. I was also suspended with one of my classmates at law school, Learnmore Judah Jongwe who was to later play a crucial role in the final stretch of the process of re-launching Zinasu. Fortuitously, our
suspension did not last long. We were re-instated after a few weeks.
Upon my officially return to campus, I then issued some invitation letter to various colleges across the country to attend a Zinasu re-launch indaba at the UZ. A lot of them failed to make it but a sizeable number of about ten different colleges managed to send some representatives. The launch meeting was then held in September 1996 at the Manfred Hodson Hall Common Room. I remember that day very well, as if it were yesterday. It was on a Saturday. To my utter
disappointment, I was the only UZ SRC member who managed to attend the meeting.
disappointment, I was the only UZ SRC member who managed to attend the meeting.
But I had to quickly regain my resolve since I also had to preside over the meeting as the host SRC leader.
The major resolutions of that September 1996 meeting can be listed as follows:
• All colleges represented at the meeting fully appreciated the need to revive Zinasu and unanimously resolved that the dysfunct organization be re-launched with immediate effect.
The major resolutions of that September 1996 meeting can be listed as follows:
• All colleges represented at the meeting fully appreciated the need to revive Zinasu and unanimously resolved that the dysfunct organization be re-launched with immediate effect.
• The process of re-launching Zinasu would involve a rallying cry to all other absent colleges that would last a period of about six months.
• In the meantime, an interim Committee was set up to facilitate the
process that would culminate with the UZ hosting a big re-launch congress.
• In the meantime, an interim Committee was set up to facilitate the
process that would culminate with the UZ hosting a big re-launch congress.
• Since I was cautious of the previous problem of the domineering role of the UZ in the previous Zinasu set up, I successfully moved a motion for the interim committee not to consist of individuals but colleges.
• The Interim Committee was led by the UZ as the Chair, NUST as the Vice Chair and Harare Polytechnic as the Secretary General. I will be so ever grateful to the Presidents of these two colleges who played a very decisive role on that day. Thamsanqa Zhou of NUST and Chalton Hwende of Harare Polytechnic.
Subsequent to that, the UZ held its own local elections for that year that led to slight regime change. I was the only member who was retained in the new SRC as the Vice President to Learnmore Jongwe. It was then under Jongwe's leadership that the momentum of the Zinasu revival process received some fresh impetus.
Subsequent to that, the UZ held its own local elections for that year that led to slight regime change. I was the only member who was retained in the new SRC as the Vice President to Learnmore Jongwe. It was then under Jongwe's leadership that the momentum of the Zinasu revival process received some fresh impetus.
Added to that, the new SRC members such as Job Sikhala, Tafadzwa Musekiwa, Qhubani Moyo, Promise Sande, Brighton Potera, among others were by far more actively interested in the Zinasu revival process.
The new UZ SRC immediately invested a lot of time and resources towards the hosting of the re-launch conference. The said conference was duly held at the Lecture Theatre 400 at the UZ on the very last weekend of February 1997. At the beginning of March 1997, a new Constitution was duly adopted and elections for substantive leadership were then duly held. The late Learnmore Jongwe was elected as the founding President of the revived Zinasu. I was also elected as his Vice president. Other key positions went to Chalton Hwende (Secretary General), Job Sikhala (Information and Publicity) and Promise Sande (Treasurer), among others.
And thus began the journey of Zinasu that I am so grateful to say has now lasted up to ten years. May I on behalf of Jongwe and other founding cadres of Zinasu take this time to wish Zinasu a very happy 10th anniversary! Our words to the current generation of leaders as led by Promise Mkwananzi remain the same; 'the struggle continues comrades, until final victory!
As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for Zinasu, I am pleased to confirm that the Zimbabwe Diaspora CSOs Forum will host a special gala here in Johannesburg on 23rd June 2007. It is hoped that all the key leaders that have emerged from the rank and file of Zinasu in the past ten years will be able to address the gala. The invitation list of speakers include among others, Chalton Hwende, Hopewell Gumbo, Nelson Chamisa, Nkululeko Sibanda, Phillan Zamchiya, Washington Katema, Promise Mkwananzi, among other illustrious leaders of Zinasu thus far.
PS: More details will further emerge on the book I am presently writing about my student leadership experiences, especially with the late Learnmore Jongwe.
The new UZ SRC immediately invested a lot of time and resources towards the hosting of the re-launch conference. The said conference was duly held at the Lecture Theatre 400 at the UZ on the very last weekend of February 1997. At the beginning of March 1997, a new Constitution was duly adopted and elections for substantive leadership were then duly held. The late Learnmore Jongwe was elected as the founding President of the revived Zinasu. I was also elected as his Vice president. Other key positions went to Chalton Hwende (Secretary General), Job Sikhala (Information and Publicity) and Promise Sande (Treasurer), among others.
And thus began the journey of Zinasu that I am so grateful to say has now lasted up to ten years. May I on behalf of Jongwe and other founding cadres of Zinasu take this time to wish Zinasu a very happy 10th anniversary! Our words to the current generation of leaders as led by Promise Mkwananzi remain the same; 'the struggle continues comrades, until final victory!
As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations for Zinasu, I am pleased to confirm that the Zimbabwe Diaspora CSOs Forum will host a special gala here in Johannesburg on 23rd June 2007. It is hoped that all the key leaders that have emerged from the rank and file of Zinasu in the past ten years will be able to address the gala. The invitation list of speakers include among others, Chalton Hwende, Hopewell Gumbo, Nelson Chamisa, Nkululeko Sibanda, Phillan Zamchiya, Washington Katema, Promise Mkwananzi, among other illustrious leaders of Zinasu thus far.
PS: More details will further emerge on the book I am presently writing about my student leadership experiences, especially with the late Learnmore Jongwe.
Daniel Molokele is a Zimbabwean Human Rights Lawyer who is based in Johannesburg. He can be contacted at zimvn@danielmolokele.com
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