Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) has formed a student’ union named Student Command, which the organization says will cater for the plights of students.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital, YARD Student’s Command President Tonderai Dombo said they came up with the student’s body in an effort to address challenges being faced by students .
He said that the new student outfit will incorporate students from across the political divide.
“After completing putting structures into all institutions, we have finally put in place the Student Command that will oversee student’s plights and make sure that we address issues arising from students,” said Dombo.
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Commenting on how different Command is to existing Student Unions, Dombo said “We have students unions like ZICOSU (Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union) which are being used by ZANU PF to further its political interests , they are made to report to the Central Intelligence on their progress.
“We are strongly against such abuse of students as we want them to be concentrating on their school work. That is what we are here to correct, we want an independent school representative body, which is what the Student’s Command is all about.
He added that the Student Command will serve students from all corners of the country and their first assignment is to advocate for the removal of fees for students on attachment.
Dombo said they are also advocating for free education for all . He challenged government to avail funds that will cater for free education mainly for disadvantaged students.
“We have a government that spends money on unnecessary items yet we a serious shortage of resources in our learning institutions.
“Most ministers drive posh cars and live in plushy suburbs yet students are suffering, we want to see an end to that,” fumed the interim president.
He also took a dig at the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo whom he accused of having misplaced priorities as he spends most of his time on social media while failing to come up with policies that will stimulate the education sector.
He said Professor Moyo should at least use the social media platforms to liaise with students on what government is doing in trying to improve the welfare of students.
As part of its mobilization strategy, the Student Command will be going to South Africa to meet with members from the Julius Malema led Economic Freedom Front, so as to “learn on certain attributes that have to do with how to pressurize governments” said Dombo.
