Africa-Press – Nigeria. THE recent arrest of at least six University of Zimbabwe students for demanding the return of striking lecturers is not merely a clampdown on dissent but also a betrayal of the nation’s future.
These students, far from being troublemakers, are the direct victims of an educational crisis that threatens the very fabric of Zimbabwe’s development.
Their protest was a desperate plea for a return to normalcy in their academic journey, interrupted by lecturers who have gone on an indefinite strike over poor salaries and deplorable working conditions.
Instead of addressing the root causes, government has chosen repression over resolution.
At the core of the crisis is government’s persistent failure to engage meaningfully with the students to solve the legitimate concerns of academic staff.
Lecturers are not only underpaid but are also working under untenable conditions, which inevitably impacts the quality of education.
The strike, while disruptive, is a symptom of a deeper malaise: an education sector chronically underfunded and undervalued.
Government’s response — arresting students advocating for their right to education — only underscores a troubling unwillingness to tackle the core issues head-on.
The implications extend well beyond campus gates.
Parents, many of whom have sacrificed greatly to fund their children’s education, are left in limbo, watching their investments go to waste.
They are part of a generation that sees education as a path to social mobility and economic stability.
When that path is blocked, the effects ripple across families and communities.
Moreover, a stalled education sector directly undermines national development.
Zimbabwe urgently needs a steady flow of qualified graduates to invigorate key sectors such as health, education and technology — all crucial for revamping our ailing
economy.
It is important to understand that when government chooses to ignore lecturers’ grievances and punish student activism, it is not merely maintaining order — it is also perpetuating a cycle of decay.
Instead of treating protests as threats, government should view them as alarms, warning of a system on the brink of collapse.
Dialogue, reform and investment in education are the only sustainable paths forward.
Lip service — empty promises and half-hearted engagements — will not suffice.
The longer government delays addressing these structural deficiencies, the more Zimbabwe risks losing an entire generation of intellectual capital to disillusionment and possibly emigration.
The nation cannot afford to silence those who advocate for a better future, whether they are behind the lecturer’s desk or seated in front of it.
It is not too late to change course.
Government must prioritise education not only in rhetoric but in policy and action.
This begins with fair remuneration for educators, improved learning environments and an open channel for student voices to be heard without fear of persecution.
Zimbabwe’s recovery depends on nurturing — not criminalising — its future.
Arresting students may offer a temporary illusion of control, but only genuine commitment to resolving the crisis will ensure lasting stability and progress.
Information for
Development Trust
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