Protest forces Unam to act
The students at Unam's main campus in Windhoek received feedback on their protest action while they were protesting.
University of Namibia student leaders hosted a peaceful demonstration at the main campus on Tuesday after numerous concerns about the institution's poor facilities and service delivery “fell on deaf ears”.
Leading the troop SRC president Joseph Kalimbwe said students have been affected by several challenges for months and their concerns have been taken lightly for too long.
“We have no choice but to act and gather our fellow students to raise our concerns,” he said.
One of the issues include the closed 'Grub' food outlet, which forces students to buy food from outside and expensive stores, the poor maintenance of facilities and the unopened old gate that hostel residents mostly use.
“It has become extremely difficult for students to walk with groceries as taxis are not allowed to enter the grounds,” explained Kalimbwe. At the time of the protest, management for the first time opened the old gate and it has since, remained open.
The students that were present at the protest gathered in front of the administration building and handed over their petition to the pro-vice chancellor of academic affairs Frednard Gideon.
Regarding the maintenance of facilities, students approached for comment told Namibian Sun that three students have collapsed in the library over the past four weeks due to the lack of air conditioners in the building.
Namibian Sun was also informed that some hostel blocks do not have access to running water, which in turn forces students to go to other blocks to bath even though they have paid the full hostel fees of N$10 770.
“We have engaged the office of the dean of students and the Unam Foundation on these issues and we sent proposals on 24 March but, to date, we have not yet received any response,” Kalimbwe explained in his petition.
Upon receiving the petition, Gideon assured the students that management will look into the issues and told them the response will be received through the right channels. Around 16:00 on Tuesday, the students received written notification that the 'Grub' will be opened on 14 April 2017.
Regarding the maintenance of the facilities, management said the issue is to be discussed with the dean of students soonest. Kalimbwe said that the students are satisfied with the results of the protest as they have managed “to get a written reply as management tends to go against their word when matters are discussed verbally.”
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
Leading the troop SRC president Joseph Kalimbwe said students have been affected by several challenges for months and their concerns have been taken lightly for too long.
“We have no choice but to act and gather our fellow students to raise our concerns,” he said.
One of the issues include the closed 'Grub' food outlet, which forces students to buy food from outside and expensive stores, the poor maintenance of facilities and the unopened old gate that hostel residents mostly use.
“It has become extremely difficult for students to walk with groceries as taxis are not allowed to enter the grounds,” explained Kalimbwe. At the time of the protest, management for the first time opened the old gate and it has since, remained open.
The students that were present at the protest gathered in front of the administration building and handed over their petition to the pro-vice chancellor of academic affairs Frednard Gideon.
Regarding the maintenance of facilities, students approached for comment told Namibian Sun that three students have collapsed in the library over the past four weeks due to the lack of air conditioners in the building.
Namibian Sun was also informed that some hostel blocks do not have access to running water, which in turn forces students to go to other blocks to bath even though they have paid the full hostel fees of N$10 770.
“We have engaged the office of the dean of students and the Unam Foundation on these issues and we sent proposals on 24 March but, to date, we have not yet received any response,” Kalimbwe explained in his petition.
Upon receiving the petition, Gideon assured the students that management will look into the issues and told them the response will be received through the right channels. Around 16:00 on Tuesday, the students received written notification that the 'Grub' will be opened on 14 April 2017.
Regarding the maintenance of the facilities, management said the issue is to be discussed with the dean of students soonest. Kalimbwe said that the students are satisfied with the results of the protest as they have managed “to get a written reply as management tends to go against their word when matters are discussed verbally.”
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
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