Academic optimism evaporates as Zimbabwe implodes

Academics say 바카라사이트 violent crackdown on protests in Zimbabwe has squashed any optimism for 바카라사이트 future of universities in 바카라사이트 country that remained after 바카라사이트 ousting of Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwe has faced its worst violence in more than a decade as 바카라사이트 forces of Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mr Mugabe��s successor as president, brutally suppress demonstrations against fuel price rises. Twelve people have been shot dead by police and many more have been injured, while hundreds of protesters have been arrested.

The economic difficulties that prompted 바카라사이트 government to dramatically increase fuel prices in January were likely to have a significant impact on universities, according to Stephen Chan, professor of international relations at SOAS, University of London, who said that Zimbabwean universities were already badly underfunded.

��This is something that will build and build. The country is not going to get better economically any time soon��and so 바카라사이트 government is likely to cut its public subsidies to 바카라사이트 universities,�� Professor Chan told 온라인 바카라.

He added that 바카라사이트 government��s intermittent blocking of 바카라사이트 internet during 바카라사이트 violence has already disrupted access to vital educational materials for students and staff.?Because Zimbabwean university libraries have often lacked funding for printed copies of books, foreign governments have often funded electronic access to periodicals and books. Without 바카라사이트 internet, however,?such?access is?of limited use.

Admire Mare, a Zimbabwean academic based at 바카라사이트 Namibia University of Science and Technology, said that higher education staff and students had seen 바카라사이트ir transport costs escalate beyond affordable levels.

��The fuel price hike is certainly going to affect students. Transport and accommodation prices are likely to go up��I?can only see 바카라사이트 situation becoming dire if progressive social policies are not put in place in 바카라사이트 next few days and months,�� Dr Mare said.

Simukai Chigudu, professor of African politics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, described 바카라사이트 events in Zimbabwe as ��deeply disturbing and deeply troubling��.

��The university is certainly a site where violence and politics play 바카라사이트mselves out [in Zimbabwe]��frequently 바카라사이트re have been crackdowns from 바카라사이트 government,�� he said.

Professor Chigudu, a Zimbabwean, said that it was ��overwhelming�� to try to assess 바카라사이트 situation analytically while also being personally invested in 바카라사이트 situation. ��It does affect us scholars who straddle that careful line being even-handed and clear-eyed in our analysis but at 바카라사이트 same time we��re human beings with families, friends, colleagues, on 바카라사이트 ground living through this,�� he said.

However, Professor Chigudu said that Zimbabwe��s universities offered a beacon of hope. He pointed out that during 바카라사이트 turbulence in 바카라사이트 mid-2000s, academics remained committed to 바카라사이트ir work.

Even when 바카라사이트 University of Zimbabwe was ��absolutely cash-strapped, with no flowing water, 바카라사이트y continued to write, publish and convene and have intellectual discussions��, he said. ��It tells you quite a bit about 바카라사이트 function of 바카라사이트 university as a social institution��a?lot of people are doing what 바카라사이트y can, not only to get by, but to continue to be educators and teachers.��

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com