President Emmerson Mnangagwa has denounced rampant corruption and moral decadence in schools calling on authorities to take stern action against the vice that he says has retarded economic growth while putting students at high health risks.
Mnangagwa made the remarks while addressing Vice Chancellors and Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Harare where he called for stringent measures against officials who abuse students for their selfish endeavors.
He said universities have become hotbeds for moral and ethical decay which has impacted negatively on the promotion and preservation of culture in the society.
“The phenomenon of corruption thrives in a society where people readily forego what is true and good in exchange for selfish interest and expedient unscrupulous acquired wealth.
“Higher learning institutions should shun and abhor corruption, nepotism and bribery in teaching, research and management of all affairs within our learning institutions.
“Deplorable corrupt and immoral tendencies that have seen undeserving students getting high marks and passes must stop. Our children, both males and females, should not be subjected to abuse in whatever form, for marks or higher grades,” said Mnangagwa.
The President’s remarks comes at a time reports from the National Aids Council (NAC) which identified higher and tertiary institutions as epicenters of the spread of HIV.
According to Beauty Nyamwanza a NAC official, tertiary institutions are at the peak of HIV infections. Some of the major contributing factors are poverty, peer pressure and drug abuse.
Mnangagwa urged students to report any cases of corruption and abuse without fear and called on officials to promote ethics and maintain a high level of professionalism.
Turning to the social welfare of students, Mnangagwa pledged to look into the issue of deplorable living conditions within universities.
“My government despite many compelling obligations pledges to continue looking into the welfare of the institutions. Over the years, government has made strides to continue paying salaries and allowances despite the limited fiscal space,” added Mnangagwa.
He chided universities not to rely on handouts but use the meager resources at their disposal to offer new products and services to the various institutions.
Mnangagwa said higher learning institutions should move from the old way of conducting business and start embracing and accepting innovation, as it has become a prerequisite for development.
The meeting, which was attended by more than 100 delegates was running under the theme “The role of universities in growing the economy.”
