We are a political organization – ZINASU

Zinasu leaders have maintained that their organization is political and it will remain that way for the entirety of its existence.

This comes after the Minister of Youth, Indigenization and Economic Empowerment, Mr Patrick Zhuwawo, castigated student unions in Zimbabwe – including ZINASU – for being “political.”

Speaking at the launch of a project called Campus Community Foundation in Harare last week, Zhuwawo said, “Students Union leadership is not representing students’ issues at all but merely getting involved in political issues.”

However Zinasu spokesperson Mr Zivai Mhetu threw down the gauntlet on Zhuwawo, accusing him of lacking a basic understanding of the functions of student Unions which he said are of a political nature.

“It is sad that a minister that deals with youths lacks a clear understanding of the functions of student bodies which are mainly composed of youths,” said Mhetu who is also a student in the department of Political Science and Administrative Studies at the University of Zimbabwe.

“The term political which is derived from the word politics refers to anything that has to do with the distribution of resources; this is something that even a first year student of political science will tell you.”

Mhetu said that because student unions constantly engage the government on matters to do with allocation of financial resources to education among other issues, they were political organizations.

“Student Unions are political organizations by nature, Zinasu constitution binds the organization to seek a better society where there is equality and all rights are respected.

This is a political commitment that is enshrined in our constitution so Zhuwawo asking us not to be political is as good as asking us to cease all operations which would to the benefit of his ruling party because we have been a thorn in Zanu-PF’s flesh since time immemorial.”

Mhetu said that Zhuwawo’s assertion that student unions were not representing students but getting involved in political issues was “oxymoronic at best and nonsensical at worst.”

“Getting involved in political issues is how we represent students, one can then not ask us to represent students without getting involved in issues of a political nature.

Mhetu went on to say that even historically, student unions in Zimbabwe have always engaged in political activities.

“In the late eighties during the times of Arthur Mutambara and throughout the history of student unionism in Zimbabwe.

“Student unions have been involved in political activities such as organizing demonstrations against corruption. Globally, student unions organize their members for all sorts of political action.

“Just last year there were massive demonstrations in Denmark organized by the national students union of that country.”

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