UZ probes candidates’ MDC links

[Paul A]

From the Zim Independent.
Paul A

UZ probes candidates’ MDC links
Brian Hungwe

THE University of Zimbabwe Academic Appoint- ments Board (AAB) questioned
prospective candidates about their political affiliation to the country’s
main opposition political party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC),
during interviews for a lectureship post, the Zimbabwe Independent has
learnt.

The move has aroused concern among academics who feel the whole selection
process has been sacrificed on the altar of political patronage.

The vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Graham Hill, chaired the
interviews last week, held to appoint a lecturer in the sociology of
tourism in the university’s Department of Sociology.

Other university officials present during the interviews were the acting
dean of Social Studies Dr Solomon Nkiwane, chairman of the Department of
Sociology Dr France Maphosa, and Dr Patrick Mamimine from the Centre for
Applied Social Sciences.

Three candidates were interviewed for the post on June 18. “Mamimine openly
declared at the meeting that the political party he supported was not a
secret. He asked questions pertaining to the candidates’ political
affiliation,” an academic said.

Hill allegedly did nothing to stop Mamimine’s line of questioning which was
against the provisions of the UZ Act which bars discrimination on the
grounds of race, creed, religious beliefs, political affiliation or gender.

“This event signals a new effort to ensure that ordinary UZ academics are
seen to be active card-carrying members of Zanu PF,” the academic said.

The appointments to the top positions at the university have become
increasingly politicised, critics say.

The university’s information and public relations manager Elizabeth Karonga
said that she was not aware of the development.

“I am only hearing it from you now. I will follow it up if you put your
questions in writing,” Karonga said.

Mamimine confirmed that he asked the candidates their political
affiliation. “It was meant to be a joke. Actually, I wanted to measure the
level of their intelligence,” Mamimine said.

Appointments to top posts at the institution are sanctioned by the
chancellor, President Robert Mugabe, after consultations with the Minister
of Higher Education, Her- bert Murerwa.

MPs, during the last session of parliament, questioned the wisdom of having
Mugabe appointing the vice chancellor of the university, while Murerwa was
taken to task for his sweeping powers in overseeing the appointments of
executive deans to various faculties at the university.

Academics said that the much-talked about faculty reforms that resulted in
the appointments of deans had not materialised.

“Just about the only change has been an increase in expenditure through the
provision of brand new vehicles to the appointed deans,” another academic
said.

[The Green Monkey]

And this is what they call freedom?

Paul A <pa...@bigfootNILSPAM.com> wrote in message
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