Army takeover disrupts university lectures, examinations

 

 

The University of Zimbabwe deferred examinations scheduled for Wednesday, and at least two other universities advised students to stay at home, according to news reports and local sources. This comes as the military has staged what appears to be a coup to end President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule.

After being held under house arrest since Tuesday, Mugabe made an appearance on Friday morning at the graduation ceremony of the Zimbabwe Open University where he is chancellor. His surprise public appearance comes as the military has said it is making progress in negotiations with Mugabe about his departure from office.

As part of the military action which started on Tuesday, several Zimbabwe government officials, including Zimbabwe’s Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, were believed to have been detained. Moyo did not attend Friday’s graduation ceremony.

While debate rages about whether or not to call the intervention a “coup” life in the country has continued with only minor disruptions to civilians. However, some universities examinations have been postponed.

According to News24, the University of Zimbabwe sent a text message to students on Wednesday saying exams would be deferred until further notice. “I will keep you posted on any other developments as we assess the situation on the ground,” a University of Zimbabwe official reportedly told students.

The same report said that the Women’s University in Africa, situated near the Support Unit para-military base, which was said to be cordoned off, also told students not to attend lectures until the situation had improved.

“As a result of the ongoing political uncertainty throughout the night and in consultation with the US Embassy and the actions of other organisations, the Women’s University in Africa will remain closed on Wednesday, 15 November 2017,” the university said.

Most schools in Harare remained open and other residents were said to be going about their normal business, uncertain about either the implications of developments or the veracity of news reports.

The dramatic events follow Mugabe’s sacking of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his long-time comrade, previously seen as his heir apparent.

Mnangagwa was sacked last week amid a succession row, with Mugabe’s wife Grace being positioned to take over as the country’s vice-president and eventually succeed Mugabe.

According to reports, the army has placed Mugabe and his family under house arrest and has said the dictator is safe and sound. In a statement, the military said security forces were targeting “criminals around” Mugabe that were “committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.”

Zimbabwe’s privately owned daily paper NewsDay on Wednesday reported that Moyo is believed to be among those detained.

“Although the reports remain unconfirmed at the moment, indications are that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo (ZANU-PF’s secretary for administration), national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo were arrested in raids at their respective homes,” the newspaper reported.

The reports note that Moyo is believed to be the brains behind the so-called G40 faction that has allegedly been masterminding the expulsion of liberation war heroes in ZANU-PF, including Mnangagwa, and pushing for Grace to succeed her husband.

Moyo had in recent months been involved in a war of words with the military who were backing Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe. The war of words reached a crescendo recently with the higher education minister saying a PhD acquired by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga was fake.

The Zimbabwe National Students’ Union Secretary General Makomborero Haruzivishe said most university students were attending classes. He said at the Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College in Harare, lecturers had told some students to stay away as a precautionary measure as a result of the uncertainties associated with the coup.

Haruzivishe said although there is a lot of uncertainty, the removal of Moyo as higher education minister was good riddance.

He said Moyo had been corrupt and was guilty of abusing student funds.

Recently a court ruled that Moyo must face charges of allegedly misappropriating around US$450,000 from a manpower development fund that finances students, among other activities.

Moyo is facing the allegations alongside Deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa and Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund Finance Director Nicholas Mapute. Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund was established through an act of parliament to fund human capital development. Among other things, it finances students on industrial attachment programmes. The Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe contributes 100% of the fund.

“As ZINASU [Zimbabwe National Students’ Union], we feel that Minister Moyo will never be missed. His removal will assist the powers that be to actually come up with a more responsible minister of higher education, a minister who will be responsive to the needs and concerns of students,” said Haruzivishe.

Reports from South Africa indicate that President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as chair of the Southern African Development Community or SADC, is sending special envoys to Zimbabwe and also to Angola to brief President Joao Lourenco, chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

According to a statement from the South African Presidency, Zuma spoke earlier on Wednesday to Mugabe “who indicated that he was confined to his home but said that he was fine”.