Nehanda Radio will begin serialising the book “Solid Impact Stories: Experiences of Student Rights Activists in Zimbabwe (2000-2012)” beginning this week on Thursday courtesy of the Students Solidarity Trust (SST).
Below is the foreword from a former student leader.
By Itai Masotsha Zimunya
The pre-independence and post-independence history of Zimbabwe locates student activism at the core of the struggle. The current Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) motto that “struggle is our birth right” is apt and most relevant within the context of a post-colonial vampire state.
Against the promise of independence, many students suffered victimisation by the post-colonial government in Zimbabwe. The state’s duty to protect and educate was substituted by its affinity to control and eliminate young bright and visionary minds. This book therefore captures some sad but powerful and motivating stories.
During my days as a student activist, I encountered many injustices including arbitrary arrests, abductions, detention, torture, kangaroo court student disciplinary hearings and brutalisation by the state security- all which culminated in the necessity of a social safety net for students.
The rise of the Student Solidarity Trust (SST) as a social safety net is owed to various institutions and people. Salutations are due to the various student activists who put their lives in defence of their country’s freedom, and to salvage it from the capture of native bourgeoisies- the ruling elite (most of whom are former student leaders of yester-years).
Whilst we celebrate these solid stories of various student activists, including those that are not captured herein, including that of Batanai Hadzizi and Lameck Chemvura among others, the historiography of liberation and leadership in contemporary Zimbabwe must inspire within this generation of activists, a higher level of dedication to human dignity, freedom and development.
The current (now late) Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr. Stan Mudenge- himself a solid student activist in the 1970’s is an example of what not to become. He laid his life fighting for independence, only to become an oppressor of student activism and academic freedom in post independent Zimbabwe.
I have no doubt that change is coming to Zimbabwe. It is also beyond doubt that this generation of student activists shall occupy key positions within the post-one party state government. The challenge, therefore, is for these solid leaders to remain solid to the end-in defence of a just and free society.
Student voices of the next generation must never be suppressed however irritating they may be. Contemporary history of Zimbabwe reveals that the voice of students is the voice of God- whoever ignores it does so at their own peril.
Whilst this book does not tell every story it is an excellent contributor to capturing and preserving the role of young, intelligent, energetic, inquisitive and risk taking students.
I salute those who initiated this project; those who worked on the material and those who sponsored the project. It is evidently expanding the body of knowledge on the role of students in the post-colonial democratisation process of Zimbabwe.
Finally, I urge all former student leaders not to be detained by the ghosts of yesteryear, but look ahead and continue to shape a better Zimbabwe. National developmental questions of a patronising and rent seeking native bourgeoisie, militarisation of the state and endemic violence in society including in student politics all need visionary leadership.
The prophecy of old must continue. Africa awaits a generation of leaders that believe and will wash away the ‘begging” tag that it unfortunately and wrongly carry given its natural resource and human potential.
I anticipate that activists and researchers from all walks of life will find this compendium handy and motivating.
Itai Masotsha Zimunya, Former Student Leader
