03/06/2012
PRESIDENT BLACKA's SRC INAUGURATION ACCEPTANCE SPEECH...............................................
Honorable Vice Chancellor, Professor D. J. Simbi; Pro-Vice Chancellor, Doctor P Kuipa; Registrar General, Mr T.B Bhebhe; Senior Proctor, Doctor R Musundire; The Bursar; Mr Sifile; Librarian; The Dean of Students, Mr G Dzoro; SRC Secretary General, Honorable Cde Prosper Gavanga; Honorable Treasurer General, Cde Ephraim Gotora, all Executive Secretaries; SRA Chairman; Honorable Cde Stephen Mushawemhuka, all SRA members, all protocols observed
Today is a big day for Chinhoyi University, a big day for the students body in specific as we are gathered to witness the orderly transfer of power in which we celebrate the unity that keeps us united and free. Yes, just recently my union ZICOSU and I were celebrating the 4 May election victory, but today what we observe is not an individual union victory, but a celebration of freedom, a symbol to an end, and a beginning, signifying renewal, as well as change. I have sworn before you and the Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbearers prescribed last year, two years and even six years ago, and this impressive ceremony adds little to the solemn sense of responsibility with which I contemplate the duty I owe to all the students of this institution. Nothing can relieve me from anxiety lest by any act of mine students interests may suffer, and nothing is needed to strengthen my resolution to engage every faculty and effort in the promotion of their welfare.
Amid the din of party strife the people's choice was made, but its attendant circumstances have demonstrated anew the strength and safety of a student’s government for the students, by the students. In each succeeding year it more clearly appears that our democratic principle needs no apology, and that in its fearless and faithful application is to be found the surest guaranty of good student’s government. I want to thank President Tafadzwa Chikukwa, for his, if any, efforts in trying to alleviate students’ problems. Whatever mistake was made by this Cde let us then join our hands together as the new leadership and the new students’ front in finding remedy and get CUT students cutting again.
We need not to shrink from honestly facing conditions at our institution today. This great empire will endure as it has endured before, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, a nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our university life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. The cost of living at CUT has risen beyond students reach, with escalating tuition fees, accommodation fees, food prices, water and electricity crisis, disorganized off-campus transport schedules, needy students being denied registration, students and security wars, among other problems besieging the students populace. Security, Let us be one family, students and security, why should we fight, what for? All we need is to respect each other for a peaceful environment.
Taking note of the abyss in which the previous union that was leading the SRC has left us in, our liberation today is crying for unity of purpose. Yes we were racing each other yesterday; yes we were calling each other names yesterday, but the common thing between us is our mandate to represent students. Elections are over now; let us in unison call for the betterment of our current environment. Losing an election should not make you a dull person, a person who searches for irrelevant or superficial factors, a person who reacts to what someone else does and does not do, a person who thinks his loss is a result of unfairness or bad luck. Rather losing should point out both your weakness and strength, it should make you a professional, a person who analyses what was done wrong and corrects it, a person who makes consultations to those victorious and intelligent friends or opponents of his, a person who creates his own goals and game plans, a person who goes on to mentally reassess strategy and learn to adapt to changing situations. Naizvozvo Ngatidzidzei kugadzirira nekutsungirira mune zvese zvatinoita hama dzangu, kungava kuChurch, Mukudzidza, Mubhizimisi, MuPolitics, Kana Mubhora chaimo. Munoona kubhora vanoti its not over until its over, I featured in a friendly match pitting Hostel D and Hostel B paweekend apo, ndakafara kutamba bhora nevanhu vane “the never say die attitude” we were trailing by a goal to nil, pulled one back, went behind again, but leveled the scores, I then scored the winning goal for my hostel in the dying minutes of the game to win it 3-2. Therefore all I am saying is, we need to prepare enough, strategize and work towards achieving our goals, they say, “you reap what you sow.” Manje ungatarisira kukohwa soya bean iwe wakarima derere, shuwa kuchengeta shumba wotarisira kukama mukaka, kutovhurira maziso hunzi ndotanhawo chinyoro chekutsengerawo nemhuri, iwe wakamwayira muboora kuphela, Haaa! Chibage kubva mumuboora. UNGASATI MASHURA.
Then let us all take part in the total renewal of the students’ front. A formidable students’ force will be born out of a dream. We are going to set goals and priorities, develop programs, policies, procedures, budgets, and also develop routines and habits that will become the normal way of doing things. If we don’t revitalize as united students, a plateau will occur in the reaching of these our initial goals and decline will definitely set in. People will then begin to doubt and say, “Things are not working as well as they used to do.” Some will begin to place blame, “is this the right way to make progress? Maybe we need to change.” It is often at this point that brethren become open to false teachings as a solution to the problem when, really, renewal is what is needed. Some people will become apathetic and take a wait- and- see attitude with hopes that things will get better. Finally, some members become alienated and drop out in total disillusionment. This will mark the absolute death of the dream for the students’ body.
Therefore with a dream of integrating the SRC with the students’ body through the creation of an interactive platform between students and the SRC to strengthen the student front, we are going to formulate committees that will also include ordinary students from the various sectors of the students division. Instead of running it the 29 of us elected leaders, we are going to decentralize and have at least 160 students actively participating in their total representation, in the different committees of Sports Arts and Culture, Properties and Transport, Legal and Academic Affairs, Food Committee, Social Welfare, Information and Publicity, Finance Committee, Audit, and Disciplinary Committees. By so doing we are going to sail in one boat as unified students to create a conducive academic atmosphere for students to enhance learning.
This will take the form of negotiations, and lobbying on behalf of students in a dialogue manner. Yes we are never going to be always in agreement with the Administration, but through rational disputation answers to problems will be found. We say no to violent demonstrations, we say no to revolts, these are acts of failures, people who have shallow minds, people who have a lot to say but no facts to present. We are also going to play an advisory role to both university management and students at large so that CUT will become the best producer of a GENERATION OF ENTREPRENUERS, students who consolidate with the current Government’s initiative to economically empower the young people of this nation. There is a high rate of students graduating every year and all of us may not be employed, therefore students from CUT must be at the forefront of utilizing the youth Development Fund and also at the forefront of strategizing the indigenization drive, and take up influential roles in key sectors of the economy which include mining, agriculture, tourism, and ICT. I therefore want to applaud those 2.2 students and their lecturers who came up with an idea to design and parade new products two weeks ago, such intelligent ideas are what we are advocating for as student leaders. Let us all BE INVOLVED in total quality management, which is never an accident, but an intelligent effort by the students front, and I being your leader am committed to meeting and surpassing all your expectations, but all that I request from my fellow academias is to go for quality. Our Total quality management will involve everyone despite any differences in religious beliefs and political affiliation, in a continual effort to improve quality and achieve majority students’ satisfaction. If we all take part in a continuous flow of incremental improvements from the bottom of the students hierarchy up to myself, with a lasting commitment to the process of continuous improvement, we are going to yield results.
What the current ruling union ZICOSU has done is to set a foundation, meant to benefit the majority students. To that effect we are in students’ government today and will then represent everyone, and thus I call upon all of you to work together and also support the current leadership in pushing the foundation to the next level. Foundations are important for building, foundations are important for educational institutions, and foundations are essential in one’s life. All we need to do as intellectuals is to unite around our belief, the belief for freedom to affordable education. Yesteryear’s generation, those who fought for Zimbabwe’s academic freedom left a Legacy. From the settler regime’s bottle neck education system, we now have an education for all system, what are we doing as a new generation? President Mugabe is a living Legacy, hate it or love it, he liberated us by leading his ZANU-PF to fight against our white enemies. That is our history which defines who we are today, and shapes our tomorrow. As a generation let us defend the gains brought to us by the previous generation, Let us defend the education for all system. All we demand today are grants and affordability. Some can deny it, but the truth is not so vague or relative that it is impossible to ascertain departures from or corruptions of that truth. However those who err from the truth will not shake the foundation that we have built as a successful Zimbabwean people and as a whole students’ front. All we need are faithful people who support faithful leaders regardless of opposition, trials, storms, or success in life.
It is said in Ecclesiastes 9 vs. 11, “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.” I have taken an oath today in the presence of God and fellow students to uphold and defend the Constitution of the SRC. To that oath I now add a sacred commitment of consecrating my office, my energies, and all the wisdom I can summon, to the cause of peace amongst the students. Fellow UBAs and USAs yesterday is gone, it’s gone forever. Tomorrow may never come, but you have today. Use it. Don’t waste it. Savor it. Enjoy it. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely; whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, let us think about such things.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, I THANK YOU!!
PRESIDENT STANLEY TAFADZWA "BLACKA" MOYO
