Students at Lupane State University (LSU) in Lupane stoned Vice Chancellor Professor Pardon Kuipa’s car during protests against poor diet, power cuts and poor security at the university.
The students allegedly stormed management offices, demanding to meet Prof Kuipa and Dean of Students, Mr Honest Ncube before looting cooked and uncooked food from service providers. Students said the university mainly relies on a generator for electricity, which they said is switched off at 10PM when they want to study or write assignments. They also stated that there is no security at the hostels and that outsiders come in as they please with no proper checking. They fear their valuables will be stolen.
The students demanded that the Students’ Executive Council (SEC) be disbanded as it was failing to represent them. LSU information and public relations officer Mr Zwelithini Dlamini confirmed the demonstrations and acknowledged issues raised by the students. Dlamini said the issue of power had been attended to temporarily by connecting to another line. He said the university had engaged four caterers to improve the preparation of meals as the university’s kitchen is still under construction.
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