‘The Brooke’ keeps UZ students away from campus ills

News
Top-of-the-range vehicles take turns to drive into the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) campus as it gets darker.

Top-of-the-range vehicles take turns to drive into the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) campus as it gets darker.

BY MOSES MATENGA

While many, including top government officials, ministers and business people drive in probably for their lectures, others are reportedly spotted regularly undertaking nefarious activities, taking advantage of the tough economic challenges that have made students vulnerable.

The-Brooke-1

Hostels have been turned into love nests, with debauchery being the order of the day as men are allowed into female students’ hostels until 10pm on weekdays and 12pm on Saturdays.

Female students are the target of the men and while some of them want to be straightforward and achieve their academic goals, due to poverty and the love for money, they are being trapped into the oldest profession, prostitution.

While men take turns in and out of the hostels, it is also not easy for those out of campus as their struggle is more bitter.

“We have to look for accommodation and we pay more than $100 a month for a small room. We also have to stay in huge numbers and peer pressure ultimately plays a bigger role as we try to outdo each other on dressing and other needs,” said a student staying in Mt Pleasant.

A visit to the university showed that a number of students were outgoing and fun-loving, but did not have the financial muscle to buy their own drinks and food, hence the “much-needed” intervention of the older men.

“It’s like a trap to be in college. You need a financially strong family to assist but our parents, due to the economic challenges, can’t afford,” said the student.

Tererai Obey Sithole, Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) secretary-general, said female students were the most affected as they fall prey to men with “predatory tendencies.”

“We have noted as Zinasu that the economic challenges have hit the girl-child hard on campus and out of campus. Predators are taking advantage of the desperate situation and engaging the young girls in reckless sexual activities,” Sithole said.

“It is our deliberate policy as Zinasu to have government address this issue even in its national budget to address the moral decay and the abuse of the girl-child by those with money and influence.”

He said some landlords were also taking advantage of the young tenants who fail to pay their rentals early and end up abusing them.

“We call upon government to act and address the issue of accommodation and grants and secure the future of the students,” he said.

Parents with students at the UZ said something needed to be done as a matter of urgency to ensure their children are safe.

“We hear a lot happens in colleges and we have read cases of female students involved in accidents during the night in the company of friends or older men and that makes us feel unsettled over the future of our children. Government must do something and ensure the safety of our children,” said one parent.

However, Harare businesswoman, Nyaradzo Ngara told The Standard Style that she felt the future of students was important and started an up-market accommodation facility for students at the UZ, with many saying in the absence of government intervention, such initiatives were welcome to save their children.

Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, including a gym and a study, the facility in Mandara has proved to be popular with parents who would want their children far from the “debauchery” that happens in areas closer to the institute.

Ngara built and furnished the Mandara home, now known as “The Brooke” that accommodates a number of students.

“I want to bring them closer to home. Here we are like a family. We have rules to follow and believe in prayer and the well-being of students,” she said.

“We also bring people who would have excelled in their areas of study to motivate them,” she said.