Unam bars three student leaders

UNAM has barred Student Representative Council vice president Raymond Tjiueza and two other members, Vanessa Hifitikeko and Jeffrey Shapange from the campus.

The three were ordered to vacate their hostel rooms until an investigation into their conduct has been finalised.

This comes after they were given a chance to explain why they shouldn’t be barred from the campus following an alleged break-in at a cafeteria.

Last week Unam expelled student leader Joseph Kalimbwe, who has since appeared in court on fraud and forgery charges, and was released on bail.

In a letter issued to the three student leaders on Friday, Unam vice chancellor Lazarus Hangula said they had not provided substantial reasons why they should not be barred from campus grounds and facilities in the face of the evidence of their alleged unlawful conduct.

“After careful consideration, I found that the reason to bar you outweighs the reason you provided for not to be barred [sic],” stated Hangula.

The three were also ordered to return all property belonging to Unam, and not to interfere with the investigation or potential witnesses nor to engage in activities to incite other students or cause damage to Unam property.

Tjiueza, who confirmed their barring from Unam, said he still had to consult his lawyers about the situation.

Tjiueza was supposed to sit for an examination tomorrow, but it is unclear whether the barred student leaders would be allowed to write their examinations. He added that Unam authorities could not say when the investigation against them would be finalised.

understands that Unam has approached SRC vice president Benhard Kavau to act as SRC president, which some student leaders said would be unconstitutional. SRC finance member Vasora Kakuritjire has criticised the decision by the office of the dean of students to approach Kavau to stand in as acting president.

He argued that the decision to appoint a new acting president was based on a misunderstanding of section 9 of the SRC’s by-laws, which state that the deputy president shall act as a convener in the absence of the president.

“It should have been a decision of congress to appoint anyone who is to act in such capacity,” he stated.

He said the dean of students should have called an extraordinary congress to endorse such a decision, or to elect a new president.

Neither Unam’s spokesperson Simon Namesho nor Kavau could be reached for comment yesterday.