They Called It Academic Genocide Part 1

February 3rd, 2009 was a Tuesday but felt like a misplaced Monday. When I reluctantly woke up in the morning all looked good except that lingering feeling. I pushed the curtain to one side, searching for the sun. It wasn’t there yet but all the indications were there, it was going to be a good day. But no, the feeling was there too. I tried to push it away whilst reaching for the door. My bed was scruff, I reckoned. Books, notepads, pens, sheets, blankets… But can you really blame me? With exams scheduled to start in just under two weeks and assignments pressing hard? I sighed, trying to gather the guts and strength to open the door and start the day, a new day. I was feeling a little weak and very reluctant. Is it because I had gone a little too far with studying the previous night or perhaps, I knew exactly what was going to happen? The golden sun rays were already smiling at me. I smiled back and attempted to wave but I couldn’t. Nobody would have understood that gesture. Waving at the sun?

The birds were busy giving me a beautiful soundtrack to start the day. Different voices, different sounds, different pitches, a different song but all blending into a beautiful choir! I loved it. But this didn’t do much to settle my nerves. What if the day was actually going to be bad? I thought. But what could be worse than what was already worse? I mean this was just the beginning of 2009. If this doesn’t mean anything then let me put it this way, 2008 was just 34 days away. I mean if anything was to happen to us, it was easy to rush back to 2008 than to stay in 2009. But then who would have wanted to go back to 2008? I opened the tape to confirm if there was water yet. 2008 had taught us to be more cautious and careful. We had witnessed cholera ravaging and wrecking communities and we were still reeling from statements made by one senior official that cholera was ‘planted as part of a grand plan to wipe us off’. He called it a biological weapon used in biological warfare after other machinations had failed. But this didn’t stop people from dying. After brushing my teeth, I looked at the toothpaste tube. Was it was going to last another day? I couldn’t answer that. Abraham would say “Jehovah Jireh”. But my faith was unwinding, uncoiling.

After showering with ice cold water, I thought I was going to feel good but no, it didn’t happen. Normally it would happen but not on this day. What had happened the previous day had shaken me although I had deceived many by laughing. That was my first reaction, a very strange reaction to the impending disaster. Perhaps I should tell you when and where it all started.

It was around 1600hrs on February 2nd, 2009 when Blessy Skipperz and myself left the University Library ready to go home. I had spent the whole day studying in anticipation of examinations which were scheduled to start on February 16th,  which was exactly 14 days away. I didn’t know if I was ready for them or not, but I was waiting for them. Sometimes you never know how ready you are until when you get on the pitch. I was concerned by a certain Mrs Lecturer who was yet to complete her module, but we still had 14 days before exams, so there was no need for panicking. At least that's what I thought. Just outside the Library, I saw three faculty mates. They asked why I was studying. I found the question sarcastic, warranting nothing but a laugh. I mean, two weeks from that very day, we were supposed to be in the Great Hall, one man for himself. Realising that I wasn’t taking them seriously, they referred me to a notice that had been placed on the notice board at the Administration Block. Blessing accompanied me to the Admin block. Indeed, the notice was there. It read something like;

The Vice-Chancellor Prof Levi M. Nyagura wishes to advise all students that following the approval of the relevant authority, the next semester fees will be as follows;
Arts/Humanities US $1000.00
Science and Engineering US$1400.00
Medicine and Veterinary Science $1800
Meanwhile, for the current semester students are required to pay US$400.00 ONLY for examinations. The amount should be paid strictly in cash only at the Bursar’s Office by February 11th at 1200hrs latest. Be advised that exams will be written by only those who would have successfully paid. Exams are starting on February 16th.

This was a shocking notice. $400 in two weeks? Who had that kind of money in Zimbabwe just 34 days after 2008? Those who were now fortunate to be paid in US dollars starting January 2009 were being paid just $100.00. Just a few days after they had received their first ever cheques in US dollars, they were supposed to make a miracle and quadruple it for their kids and dependents at the University of Zimbabwe to write exams. They were supposed to repeat the miracle of The Sea of Tiberias - 2000-odd years after the first one. Look we were supposed to cry but no, we laughed. Patrice Lumumba laughed on his way to his grave. Who can stop the inevitable?

Instead of proceeding home, I went back to into the Library to a group of friends that I had left busy studying. Now was my turn to ‘ask them why they were studying’. Darlington was in Q Section whilst the rest of the crew were in the computer lab downstairs. I sat next to him and broke the news. He laughed. That’s how I had reacted, that’s how people were reacting that day. He closed and packed his books and we immediately left, speaking in hushed voices. We went to the computer lab were other friends including Kenneth, Malvine and Clifford quit what they were doing and joined us to the Admin Block. I wanted to show them the infamous notice.

To be continued...