adminLatwell Nyangu
Former Junior Council member Ropafadzo Mazanire, says it is scary at times to be at university as some of the things that happen there are unbearable.
The learner said university has to be one of the few places where one simultaneously follow their dreams.
“A famous statement that is said by our high school teachers during our final year of school is ‘’makunopinda munyika’’ .
“I always felt this statement was highly exaggerated only to realise that it is much underrated.
“The world we saw in high school was a world filtered and the real world has been concealed from us by our parents. We may have been protected from it for that particular time but we were certainly not prepared for it,” she said.
The Environmental Engineering student at Chinhoyi University of Technology, believes that the girl child has toughest moments in this new world.
“Many female students are affected in different and varied ways and challenges range from socio- economic to policy and institutional based. With the current economic situation, I am sure it’s no surprise that many parents may struggle with providing for their children, with the food prices going up every day, even at the university canteen you realise that many students are sleeping on empty stomachs.
“There is a famous joke amongst college students that says ‘check up on your friends on campus, some are listening to music for lunch’’.
“It’s only when you really look at your friends that you realise that some students are forced to survive on one meal because their parents can only afford that and their fees with other students having to work odd jobs even for their fees.”
She also denounces students having “blessers” despite challenges.
“These issues are rarely reported because of the stigma associated with them, the fear of being judged and blamed, so the victims of such heinous acts just keep quiet and suffer in silence,.
Ropafadzo said, at college girls face sexual harassment.
“This is one horrible thing that is being perpetrated in scarier ways every day. Some students are drugged by the ones they trust. Drugging of girls is common not only at college, but the country at large.
“The notion that females don’t drink alcohol or rather shouldn’t drink alcohol has led to many victims of drugging not reporting as they fear they will be judged for their choices.
“The sad part about sexual harassment is that our supposed school fathers or caretakers, the lectures are also indulging in this act.”
Despite all this chaos, Ropafadzo believes students can also start businesses.
“We do have some success stories too. We have students who start businesses, myself included. They become entrepreneurs and inspire their peers the right way. Some students sell products like clothes and cosmetics and others offer services like plaiting hair and doing artificial nails.
“Though I strongly feel these individuals are not supported enough as some university polices hinder such activities I think these individuals are the innovative people this country desperately needs and must be given more support.
“We also have students that start charity organisations that help other students and better the school too.
“I will give special acknowledgement to the peer educators and the Christian Union. These students are really doing the most, offering guidance and helping many students.”
Online Reporter