UZ Student Speaks After Scholarship Was 'Revoked' By The Government
University of Zimbabwe student, Allan Chipoyi, whose scholarship was revoked for alleged links with the opposition has denied allegations that Project Vote 263, which he chairs, was formed to champion the regime change agenda.
Project Vote 263 has been campaigning for the registration of new voters ahead of the 2023 elections.
Chipoyi was recently informed by the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) that his scholarship had been cancelled. Chipoyi said:
My scholarship had no conditions upon which payment was premised. They are trying to eliminate me from the education system and yet there are no compelling reasons as to why they want to do so.
That is not even our agenda [to topple the government], our agenda is crystal clear that we want to help the people of Zimbabwe to vote. I don’t know where the confusion is emanating from.
The business and finance student said he had engaged a lawyer to take up his case with ZIMDEF.
Chipoyi said two weeks ago he failed to access his results through his student account portal because of a ZWL$26 000 balance, and he approached the bursary office to enquire.
The bursary office advised Chipoyi that if he was under a ZIMDEF scholarship the due balance reflecting in his account meant his scholarship had been cancelled.
Ministry of Higher and Tertiary education spokesperson Chipo Mayeza said Chipoyi’s full fees are being paid by ZIMDEF until he finishes his studies in 2023. Mayeza said:
The ministry’s position is that all the available scholarships in our institutions we do not discriminate against gender, sex, race, class or political affiliation. If the student is facing any challenges, he should visit the ministry.
Chipoyi insisted the fees had not been paid as he is still unable to access his results.
Chipoyi and the Project Vote 263 director Youngster Matete were arrested in Gweru on Tuesday after they mobilised transport for 30 people in Mkoba and ferried them to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission offices so they could register to vote.
More: ZimLive
