VC asked to lift SRC suspension
In an impassioned plea to the Unam vice chancellor, the leadersip of the northern campus has asked that the suspended students be allowed to continue their studies.
The student leadership of the four northern Unam campuses have called on the vice-chancellor, Lazarus Hangula, to lift the suspension of three student leaders from its Windhoek main campus who are currently under investigation.
Their suspension followed alleged instigation of forced entry into the main campus cafeteria 'The Grub' earlier this year, amid claims by students that there was lack of eating and studying facilities on campus.
This resulted in the suspension of the Student Representative Council (SRC) members Raymond Tjiueza, Vanessa Hifitikeko and Jefrey Shapange, who now face charges of malicious damage to property.
The plea for leniency begs for Hangula's sympathy and that he intervenes in the matter. They suggested that the three suspended SRC members be stripped of their powers as student leaders and allowed to continue with their studies as ordinary students.
“The decision to suspend the three SRCs from their academic activities, and barring them from entering the university premises, should be considered null and void… we are therefore appealing to your conscience to consider the impact of suspending the student leaders in this matter. That is clear intimidation and a threat to future student leaders,” the statement reads.
They also recommended that the trio be given a final warning as first offenders. According to Unam spokesperson, Simon Namesho, the disciplinary hearing of the suspended student leaders is complete.
“The student disciplinary committee, in line with the University of Namibia's Student Code of Conduct, has concluded the disciplinary hearing of the suspended student leaders, which was preceded by a preliminary review. The three student leaders' cases and hearing process was handled on an individual basis. Subsequently, and as per the Code of Conduct, after the disciplinary hearing each student was verbally informed of their verdict. They are now to receive this verdict in writing, before end of this week,” Namesho said.
However, in their statement the northern student leaders argue that the suspended students were acting in their capacity as representatives of fellow students who elected them into power, adding that they were just carrying out their obligations as per the SRC constitution.
“The management of Unam failed to provide sufficient student study facilities on campuses and this has agitated the students to put pressure on the student leaders. As thus, the student leaders were mandated by the student community to present their demand to management… they were acting in their capacity as student representatives as stipulated in the SRCs constitution to be more specific Article 2,” the statement read.
“Their attention was to demonstrate the seriousness of the study facility for students on campus but it was never to destroy or damage the university's property but to use minimal force for demonstration purposes,” it further read.
The suspension of the trio also coincided with the expulsion of the SRC president, Joseph Kalimbwe for his involvement in the matter.
Kalimbwe was expelled from the university after he was served with a letter from Hangula on 30 May informing him that he was not registered as a Unam student and that he must remove all his belongings from the campus.
The next day Kalimbwe was arrested and charged with fraud, forgery and uttering. He was released on N$1 000 when he appeared at the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Their suspension followed alleged instigation of forced entry into the main campus cafeteria 'The Grub' earlier this year, amid claims by students that there was lack of eating and studying facilities on campus.
This resulted in the suspension of the Student Representative Council (SRC) members Raymond Tjiueza, Vanessa Hifitikeko and Jefrey Shapange, who now face charges of malicious damage to property.
The plea for leniency begs for Hangula's sympathy and that he intervenes in the matter. They suggested that the three suspended SRC members be stripped of their powers as student leaders and allowed to continue with their studies as ordinary students.
“The decision to suspend the three SRCs from their academic activities, and barring them from entering the university premises, should be considered null and void… we are therefore appealing to your conscience to consider the impact of suspending the student leaders in this matter. That is clear intimidation and a threat to future student leaders,” the statement reads.
They also recommended that the trio be given a final warning as first offenders. According to Unam spokesperson, Simon Namesho, the disciplinary hearing of the suspended student leaders is complete.
“The student disciplinary committee, in line with the University of Namibia's Student Code of Conduct, has concluded the disciplinary hearing of the suspended student leaders, which was preceded by a preliminary review. The three student leaders' cases and hearing process was handled on an individual basis. Subsequently, and as per the Code of Conduct, after the disciplinary hearing each student was verbally informed of their verdict. They are now to receive this verdict in writing, before end of this week,” Namesho said.
However, in their statement the northern student leaders argue that the suspended students were acting in their capacity as representatives of fellow students who elected them into power, adding that they were just carrying out their obligations as per the SRC constitution.
“The management of Unam failed to provide sufficient student study facilities on campuses and this has agitated the students to put pressure on the student leaders. As thus, the student leaders were mandated by the student community to present their demand to management… they were acting in their capacity as student representatives as stipulated in the SRCs constitution to be more specific Article 2,” the statement read.
“Their attention was to demonstrate the seriousness of the study facility for students on campus but it was never to destroy or damage the university's property but to use minimal force for demonstration purposes,” it further read.
The suspension of the trio also coincided with the expulsion of the SRC president, Joseph Kalimbwe for his involvement in the matter.
Kalimbwe was expelled from the university after he was served with a letter from Hangula on 30 May informing him that he was not registered as a Unam student and that he must remove all his belongings from the campus.
The next day Kalimbwe was arrested and charged with fraud, forgery and uttering. He was released on N$1 000 when he appeared at the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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