NATIONAL
University of Science and Technology (Nust) students who did not manage to
travel to their homes outside Bulawayo when the national lockdown was announced
on March 30 are now stranded and running out of food.
After President
Mnangagwa first announced the national lockdown, he subsequently extended it by
a further two weeks, twice.
Universities
just like schools have remained closed as Government is conducting
consultations on how to open them while ensuring the safety of learners.
The Nust
students, who are renting rooms in various suburbs, received food hampers from
non-governmental organisations yesterday.
The students
said they never anticipated that the lockdown would be extended hence their
decision to stay put at their lodgings.
Lockdown
regulations prohibit inter-city travel and some of the students are not from
Bulawayo.
Civil and Water
Engineering second year student Mr Pardon Gandiya said life had become hard for
them due to the prolonged lockdown.
“When this
lockdown was announced in March, we thought it was going to be for those three
weeks. So, to me it didn’t make sense that I travel back home to Harare and
return after three weeks. But now it has been extended for the second time and
I no longer have food at home,” he said.
“I am
struggling for survival. I can’t even pay rent to my landlord who is demanding
foreign currency. Due to this lockdown my parents were also not working making
life even more difficult.”
He said the
food hamper, which consists of 2 litres cooking oil, soya mince, 2kg rice and
500g salt, came handy for him and his friend whom he shares a room with.
Final year
Banking and Investment student Miss Barbra Pangai from Gutu in Masvingo, said
she did not travel back home as she wanted to dedicate more time to her
dissertation.
While the
lockdown gave her ample time to focus on her work, it has seen her struggling
to make ends meet.
“For starters
it has been difficult to just travel to buy groceries. We are facing
difficulties in accessing food or even money while we are here. Some of our
parents, due to the national lockdown have had their salaries cut. Therefore,
it has been difficult for them to support us and our families back home. We
appreciate this donation as it cut costs on some of the goods that I would have
bought,” she said.
Miss Pangai
said well-wishers should also consider donating sanitary wear as it is now too
expensive for students.
Nust student
representative council president Mr Innocent Dombo said the lockdown has
presented myriad of challenges for students who are grounded.
“Some of the
students are now food insecure as parents and guardians have lost their source
of livelihoods. While we are students, this is an adult population and most
students would not want to be bothering their parents as they understand the
challenges they are facing. Some of the students are no longer getting
financial support they were getting before the lockdown because their families
are also affected by the lockdown,” said Mr Dombo.
He said the
students’ body has also started counselling for mental distress.
“Some of the
parents and guardians of the students live and work in Covid-19 hotspots in the
diaspora. So, we have observed that students are facing psychological issues as
they worry of their families considering the seriousness of the virus in other
countries,” he said.
Mr Dombo said
the food donation came after they engaged some organisations to assist the
vulnerable student population.
Zimbabwe
Humanitarian Livelihood Development Trust humanitarian officer Miss Charmaine
Dube, who was part of the food hampers mobilisation team, said students’
welfare is usually overlooked.
She said her
younger sister was a student at a local university and after interacting with
her she got the picture of challenges facing university students.
“My appeal is
for Government to come up with interventions that also target students. They
come from the same communities that are facing challenges. They are also facing
challenges and need help,” she said.
Organisations
that were heavily involved in sourcing food hampers for the students are
Organisation of Rural Associations for Progress (ORAP), Eat Out Movement and
Feed the City.
Nust acting
communications and marketing director Mr Thabani Mpofu expressed gratitude to
the food hamper mobilisers saying students were in great need of a bailout,
considering that they were stranded away from their families.
“There are
about 100 students who have benefitted from this food hamper donation but the
students who are living in the areas surrounding Nust could be more. The
donation was mobilised by the SRC who got in touch with students through their
contacts. As a university we are just here to observe the kind gesture and we
are grateful for the donations that our students have received,” said Mr Mpofu.
He said
students did not anticipate that the lockdown was going to be extended hence
most of them had not travelled to their respective homes. Chronicle
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