Homeless in the exam season

A group of female students has been chased off the house they were renting by a ruthless landlady and as im writing this article they are homeless.

The incident happened after the students complained of the unfair treatment they were getting in terms of rentals and living conditions. 

The landlady who is full of herself could not understand the tears of the girls and continued toughening the terms of stay which forced to report the matter to the SRC.

A member from the SRC visited the place to with the intention of talking and knock some sense into the landlady's head but it turned that she doesn't even have a heart...'maybe she gave it to someone else in return for some cash'.

This whole incident led into an exchange of words between the students and the house owner and eventually she dismissed them without notice.

It is an exam month and as concerned students we expect each one of us to be in a conducive environment so as to prepare for exams without any obstacle. 

Now where would they get the time to look for another place to rent when they are busy with their exams. It means that they will have to just find somewhere to put a head for a night and work up in the morning...;we cant call that a sleep.

They are now living like refugees or maybe squatters as if they don't have homes in their mother towns; that's one thing these landlords forget to remember. They think we are staying at their places because we are suffering, yet in actual facts we are suffering because we are staying at their places

What kind of a person would dismiss tenants who are in such a scenario...well i guess its all about greedy and selfishness. 

All we need is an uprising, dont you think so?

Rent issues topical again

We are now in the last month of the semester before we close our academic year and the rent issue with landlords is topical again.

for such a house, they need
 more money

Landlords know for sure that for the next four months they wont be getting any rand from their rooms and now they want to capitalist on the poor students.

A lot of the landlords in areas surrounding NUST have hiked their rents for the month of May. This has in turn resulted in many students failing to raise the needed amount and are now on eviction without notice.

For those who will be coming back next academic year, landlords have implemented a rule that for anyone to guarantee his/her accommodation, they should pay rent in full every month during the vacation.

For that reason again, students have decided to check out at the end of the semester as they always do...but this is also a grantee of accommodation crisis when they come back.

Quite frankly how can I pay rent for a room that i'm not using.

These landlords are going too far. I think something should be done about this. There should be a constitution to guide these people's operations...come on SRC...do something 

Internet access still a challenge

Internet access is still a challenge at the National University of Science and Technology and yet we need it day in day out to advance science and technology in Zimbabwe.

We only have a few of these transmitters at NUST

With the growth of the digital age, Internet use is becoming more and more necessary by the rise of another day and every student should have full access to the service.

Contrary to that, only a few corners at the institution are covered with wi-fi network  and again in the odd hours of the day; only a few students access it.

Cable network is only available in less than five ports the whole compass and the rest have 'never been serviced ever since they where installed' ... they are not working

Researching online is such a challenge under such circumstances and students are forced to visit Internet cafes and pay $1 per hour after paying hundreds of dollars as their academic fees.

Part four students are doing their projects and they need full access to the net but it is a rare resource. The library is poorly equipped with literature and we need books from the web.

The faculty of Communication and Information Science has courses which rely basically on online services and Internet access is a pre-requisite. Its non availability is posing a tremendous challenge to the flow of academia.

 Even the computer labs are not fully equipped with Internet access; I wonder how they want us to operate in this digital age where everything is happening on the world wide web.

In other cases, cable network and wi-fi are found where there is no power access and yet due to the hard work we give to our laptops, batteries are now almost off.

But still, they don't even care about us...

Heat under sufferer's feet

For how long shall NUST students rely on rented places for their accommodation  Life is not easy for us at all and given better conditions i'm sure w can produce better results.

Working up in a small room with tiny windows and rarely any ventilation, I wonder how if this is the way that it should be in the life of a UBA.

Landlords are overcharging us and we are overcrowded in those matchboxes which don't even have shelves to put my stuff.

Woke up around 3am with the intention to study buy what put me off is the fact that there are no reading desks. It was only an hour later after a loved one called on my phone that I started reading leaning against the wall but still i was forcing matters.

This lasted only for an hour before I decided on going to compass walking across the dark and smiling to the cold. 

Well is this going to change? The more they say things are gonna change, the more they get worse. My belly is almost empty because the landlord ripped me off all the bucks and yet still in need 10 rand daily if ever i'm to visit the library.

My safety as a student is at risk since i have to walk to and from the school for studies if ever i'm to produce better results.

Don't we think all this was gonna be eliminated if the varsity was to accommodate majority of the students?...Well, I don't know...all I know is i'm suffering for for years in university custody.

Academia has been always painful and we expected that when we came, so why again is more heat applied to my feet. Eish ...all I see is double trouble, more pain and more suffering in the life of a university student. 

Vandalism of public property; a cause of concern

Vandalism of public property is continuously spreading all over our country and yet we keep on complaining of shortage thereof.

Call boxes are no-longer in existence

Vandalised bus stop sheds 

It is not a new phenomenon yes; it started long back but we should not keep on praising it simply because those who came before us have been doing it.

All bus stops used to have sheds where we could shelter ourselves in hot summer or in the rainy seasons. 

All this is history after we took them to construct our foul runs.

I personally have seen a metal bath tub at a certain home that has the give way sign. Someone plucked it off the road and decided to make tubs for his children. What a shame.

All highways used to have barbed wire fence along them to avoid livestock and other animals from entering the roads; we stole them and fenced our gardens. Now we are heading our cattle on the roads.

Come-on folks, this is our property. We need it in our daily lives.

But well...i think someone is not doing his/her job properly.

From potholes to tubholes

That's no-longer a pothole...its now a tub-hole

The next thing all this part will be off and we still call it a tared road

And when it rains...

Our roads are full of of injuries that can not deserve the pothole title but a tub-hole attribute. These potholes are continuously increasing without anyone giving a 'damn' about them.

Most of the roads in our 'ghettos' are now worse that gravel ones and yet we still call them tared roads.

Drivers have resorted to creating new roads on what used to be pedestrians' dusty pavements because they cant stand these 'tub-holes anymore.

Traditionally, we used to know that if a pedestrian wants to avoid cars, he/she will walk on the roadsides; to date that have since changed and to avoid traffic, a pedestrian needs to walk right on the 'tared' road since drivers now follow the roadsides.

if you have to keep your car intact, it means you have to be late for work everyday trying to avoid the unavoidable potholes.

It is only a combie driver who just run over these potholes ...not because his vehicle is strong but because its not his so he don't even care.

I think the city council needs some counselling

Gamer Addiction in college life...comeon guys lets fight it

A 19 year old freshman male walks into your office looking disheveled, lacking personal hygiene, with red eyes, and has lost weight. The student avoids eye contact, seems uncomfortable, angry, and anxious to leave your office. The academic report on your desk shows that he is frequently absent, falls asleep in class, and his assignments are late or nonexistent. During the interview, you learn the student has few friends, procrastinates, isolates himself in his room, has carpel tunnel syndrome, eats irregularly, sleeps two hours each night, has migraines and backaches.

A 40 year old senior female wants help studying for the GRE exam she is taking - tomorrow. Procrastination is a pattern with this student. Although her GPA and ACT are high, she admits to exhaustion because she sleeps two or three hours each night and lives on chocolate and caffeine. Assignments are turned in on time but only after pulling several 'all nighters.'

What do these two students have in common? Insights garnered from answers to your questions lead you to believe that the source of both problems is overuse of the internet and the playing of computer or video games: Gamer Addiction.

WHAT IS GAMER ADDICTION?

Gamer Addiction is an obsession with video game playing that usually begins in elementary and middle school. By college, the individual progresses from simple to elaborate games and the student is game-hooked. An activity becomes an addiction when it is used to change an individual's mood. It becomes abuse when it interferes with 'one's work or school, or disrupts personal or family relationships, and becomes increasingly necessary to feel good' (Orzack, 2005a, p. 1).

Addiction takes away from life and reduces motivation to do anything beyond the focus of the addiction (IGDA panel). Niolosi (2002) found that video games are part of the daily routine for 65% of American girls and 85% of American boys. NBC News ( 5-19-05 ) reported that one in eight gamers develops patterns similar to other types of addiction and abuse. Tournemillie (2002) noted that a survey of 1500 teenagers indicated 25% were compulsive video gamers. Fifty per cent of those surveyed used the word 'addiction' to describe a friend's gaming behaviors.

Today's video games are available in a plethora of venues that draw individuals into the world of the game. Games are designed to keep the player riveted to action. Players experience a sense of control when they enter into the fantasy world of speed, realism, violence, new morals, and interoperability. Many games offer on-line anonymous interaction with other people; a 'hook' is a sense of family or belonging in the form of a pseudo persona the player develops when repeatedly playing the game. The longer the game is played, the more the pseudo persona can replace reality.

Bulawayo water crisis on hibernation

Working up in the morning and enjoying a bath in a running shower is such a luxury in a city harassed by some water crisis. For a moment, maUSA nemaUBA are able to bath every day. Enough respect to ZITF

So why do they deprive us this water if they know that its important?

If the water is not there why don't they make efforts to make it available?

in their homes do they rely on backet systems?

Have our city fathers got into town without bathing because of unavailability of water?

Do they know how it feels to spend days without changing your clothes?

Basically, when was the last time they used bush toilet?

Have they entered into a public toilet when there is no water in town?

So at the end of the day, do i really need to celebrate for this temporary water availability?...Well, I don't know. What I know is that water is plenty this days because the city of Bulawayo is hosting ZITF

Power cuts on a 'pause', thanx to ZITF

For a moment, as a university student i'm able to use electricity whatever time i want without disturbances and disruptions from the ZESA guys. Credits to ZITF.

Under normal days, it is a usual norm to work up only to find that they have just switched off the power again.

Studying would be hard because with a hungry belly, brains wont function well since they need lots of energy.

Studying in the evening is usually disturbed ; ZESA guys have no mercy, to them its normal to give people a black out.

This week, it is however different, we are enjoying our rare resource to the fullest because there in no a single day of the week that we miss it. How I wish ZITF would be done every week of the month.

My question NOW is, 'If they can manage to give us electricity everyday of the week, what exactly is it that fails them in other weeks to come?'

Forgive me if this is a ridiculous question but somewhere in that question there is a meaning.

My worry now is based on the fact that next week we might have to appreciate the darkness if those guys decide to play a revenge game.

It is typical of them to treat this as a debt which needs to be paid back. To them, it is taboo for electricity to be available 24 hours a day.

I just hope there is no black out next week.

Bulawayo City Council to continue with its water rationing regime

THE Bulawayo City Council has put in place no measures to ease its water rationing regime despite the fact that the rain season came and go.

Bulawayo residents are getting used to a four-day (in some cases three day) a week water rationing schedule and this is continuing into yet another dry season.

With a permanent solution to the water crisis - a US$1,2 billion Chinese-sponsored pipeline from the Zambezi - still two years away from completion, Bulawayo authorities are asking residents to brace for tough times.

City bosses say all five dams are located in the Umzingwane Catchment area which was so far seen sporadic rainfall since the onset of the rain season last September.

In comparison, water sources in the northern parts of the country have seen a steady rise in water levels, with Lake Kariba said to be 64 percent full

Grass roots or grassy roads?

In as much as we are thriving to promote inclusive development at grass roots levels, i think we are ending up loosing our little possessions to thieves and robbers due to grassy roads that the city council is failing to clear.

Its been a while ever since we received heavy rains in Bulawayo;  the weather is characterized by sunny days and heat waves but no one from the city council has bothered lifting his/her head to see how green our roads are.

Our roads now look better than farms. If they had cleared them two months ago, i'm sure with this dry moment, they would be still clear by now.

Are they waiting for the grass to dry up naturally? Do they need to wait up until June comes and freeze up the grass.

These bushy roads are quickly becoming a nest that accommodates robbers who wait patiently for us to unwillingly give them our small possessions that we intend to use for the construction of our future.

I'm writing this because as one of the students who learn at a university that fails to provide accommodation for the majority of students, the pain is on me too.

We study till late but it has become a challenge when its time to go to the rented places we call home. The roads have turned into forests and at times we actually forget that we are in an urban area.

How many liters of diesel do their tractors need to cut off the grass? How much do they need to buy manual slashers? How much again do they need to pay those who are willing to take up the jobs? I'm sure that's not too expensive for our rich city council.

Lets promote our communities through grass roots initiatives rather than killing them through grassy roads incentives.

Bulawayo water crisis hits NUST students

NUST students who rent in surrounding suburbs have been thirsty ever since the beginning of 2012 dry season, a challenge especially with them staying in large numbers.

Water rationing scheme implemented by the city fathers is like a stub on a soft skin considering the fact that at times taps only drop' tears' when students are at school.

To make matters worse  these students are staying in large numbers and when water comes in the morning, it can cut before they finish bathing. The same applies when they try to load up containers for storage; only the early birds catch the biggest grains.

Lest we forget the wash day blues when the water may just decide to quit while someone's clothes are still soaked. This has led a lot of students to repeat the same clothes over and over again; not so good for a varsity student considering the high temperatures in Bulawayo.

To stay fresh and comfortable under these high temperatures, one needs to bath at least three times a day but this is highly impractical for them considering the crisis. If someone manage to bath at least once a day (not to forget those who struggle to bath at least once in two days) and spare some water for cooking then he/she is safe.

If only they where not staying in 'bulk' then it was going to be better because a small family can manage to give its members a chance to use the precious resource.

Kombies to NUST a "life hazard"

Commuter omnibus operators on the NUST-Town route seem to be highly ignorant of the safety of their valued clients.

The kombies they provide are too old for the road and are no-longer in their original condition. Only a few loads fuel in the actual fuel tanks as most of them now operate from the 2 liter and 5 liter containers hanging outside the engine.

Most of them are now operating on jump start and this is a risk to NUST students who rely on these kombies for daily transport.

Just a day ago, one of these kombies caught fire and it was burnt to ashes serve for the frames of the body. Passengers had to fly out with their lives through the windows after they realised the are in a life threatening situation.

Almost all of these combies have oil leakages and some don't even have windows. Surprisingly, they are driven at a reckless speed and we wonder if they are driven by rational people.

To make matters worse, some of these drivers will be drunk and they don't care what happens to who because of their behaviour.

SRC, should do something about this because i'm sure they have such powers.

In pictures

Now useless, after the fire killed the business

Owners inspecting the vehicle in the morning

The helpless vehicle burning down

Almost everything now in ashes

Fire rising in the speed of light

Thugs continue terrorising us. Where are the C.O.Ps?

Thugs continue terrorising NUST students in Riverside Selborne park and Matshemhlope,places that used to be flooded by police on patrol.

On Sunday evening, another girl was attacked and nearly raped just close to her place's gate.

In Matshemhlope, a 'girls only' rented place was recently raided for the second time with robbers getting away with phones,laptops, clothes,and cash.

Last Semester, another one was raped in Selborn Park on her way home.

In Kilarney, a guy was sodomised by four thugs after robing him of his laptop.

Two people  lost their laptops to thugs right in front of NUST's gate showing that those rascals are so daring.

In Selborne park again, a girl escaped and a male friend was stabbed by a knife,fortunately not to death. They   both lost their laptops.

Another girl sustained knife injuries on her buttocks when the thugs caught up with her as she dropped off at the bus stop. Does it mean that all these stories and many others have not reached the ears of the police?

These incidences don't take place at odd hours, but during the time when students are coming from school. Avoiding walking around those times would compromise students academically. We cant afford to do that, can we?.

The neighborhood is too dark, street lights are never repaired...I wonder why they ever installed them initially.

Something must be done.

A health hazard in the name of accomodation

Just like a public toilet at a public terminus...this is one of the toilets that we

 use after  paying  $80 per  head

And that is a door...the red cable is the locking system

Cattle's kraal... and we are supposed to accept that it is a toilet

Entrance to the expensive house

The red roof behind this 'shack' is the landlord's double story house and this shack is

 supposed to serve as a home for the innocent students

This is the source of all the funny smells that entertain our noses

Raw sewage is the everyday story. 

Bricks to step on...The floor is too dirty so people bring in bricks to step on

What a shower room

Distress in the hands of ruthless landlords

The struggle continues for most students as their living conditions in the surrounding suburbs are getting harsh and harsh and by the rise of each new dawn.

 Its now almost a week without electricity at one of students' rented places which accommodates almost 40 students from NUST.

I have been staying at this place for almost two years now and what i'm writing on this page is from an ethnographic perspective not from interviews or third party narrations.

Ever since ZESA installed the pre-paid power system at this house almost a week ago, it has been a black out scenario for the tenants.

A hungry man is an angry man so at the moment these students are not seeing eye to eye with this unconcerned landlord and are considering moving out ( Which is a normal case that students don't usually stay for more than a semester at this place).

To make matters worse, he didn't even address his tenants to apologize for the inconvenience caused. To him all is normal when people are sleeping with empty bellies. A grown up person kurarira maJiggies (Having Junk food for dinner) its not funny.

This is not the only challenge at this 'dormitory' place. Ever since the beginning  of the second semester he hasn't repaired the damaged water pipes and students are surviving on borehole water which has been found unfavorable for consumption.

The previous academic year, the same landlord decided not to pay the water bill and students went for at least a month without water, not to mention that there was no borehole at that moment. Going to school without bathing became normal for those who stayed at this 'refugee camp'.

According to the survey made by this writer, this place is the dirtiest of all the houses that provide accommodation to NUST students.

Commonly known as KwaMpostori this place is being likened to the shacks which were demolished by operation Murambatsvina and the landlord doesn't even care .

"After paying $80 per head, in a room with an average of four people, this is what we get".That is the students' outcry for this week. Guys, what do you say?

Where is the SRC ,does it exist anyway?

Its been a while since the SRC was 'elected' to power, but up to this date a lot of students at NUST don't know even a single member of them.

What does this mean when students are continuously faced with challenges that need to be addressed before the the sailing ship submerge.

With all these stumbling blocks in a miserable student's way, are they (SRC) not supposed to be active participants in the battlefield since by virtue of their position, they hold ammunition that other students don't?

At this day,a number of students are not yet back to school, not because they are enjoying the benefits of a self extended holiday but they are not able to raise the required minimum amount of fees to register for this semester.

Right now as this writer posts this article,there is no wi-fi access at the institution of higher learning. Isn't it the SRC's responsibility to facilitate a positive change to the situation.

After paying the fees, how is the money working?

With a non active committee in power, who is there to mediate such concerns .

Ahoy maUBA, ahoy maUSA.

Ahoy maUBA, ahoy maUSA.

Yes we are all exposed to lots of pain and suffering as students. It is heat under sufferer's feet as more and more pressures are exerted upon us. Issues of academic fees, accommodation, study facilities such as the
library,internet access etc. All these are swept under the carpet each time we try to to voice out our concerns. This is the platform...lets get them discussed. Let it out, don't die from inside. Remember, this is a good avenue to the mainstream media