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Students` strikes must be democratic
2007-05-04 09:09:31
By Editor
Much can be written and said regarding the just-ended, or to be more precise, soon-ending university students strike. The students have been protesting against the current cost sharing arrangement in tertiary education institutions.
We do not wish to be embroiled in the tug of war that has existed between the students and the University of Dar es Salaam administration.
What we mainly wish to dwell upon is the method which the students have chosen to air their grievances.
Indeed, this was not the first strike since the university was established, and it might not be the last.
A peaceful strike is a way of highlighting and making your demands felt. It might or might not work.
Nevertheless, a peaceful and democratic strike is recognised as a legal weapon by the world community. At this juncture, stress is emphasised on the words “peaceful” and ``democratic.``
Those who organised the students’ class boycott had their reasons for the stance which they believed would qualify them to be heard by the university administration and government authorities.
However, there were other students who believed that a strike would not solve their problem and did not intend to take part in the class boycott.
The latter had the right to be heard and respected, regardless of the fact that they were a minority or a majority, or even if it was only one person.
The right to strike did not deny others the right not to strike, and it goes without saying that the former should not have imposed their will on the latter.
Student leaders at University College of Lands and Architectural Studies, which is an affiliate of the University of Dar es Salaam, had written twice to the University administration to state their position of not joining the strike.
However, this position was changed when a mob of radical students from the main campus invaded Uclas, caused mayhem and harassed those who were not intending to strike.
That is why the University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly said in its statement that most of the students had not wanted to take part in the boycott of classes but were rather forced out of classes by their fellow students.
Udasa deplored attempts by some students to suppress their colleagues who had dissenting views on how to achieve the goals they intended to gain.
Udasa opposed the undemocratic behaviour although it stated that the concerns raised by suspended students were genuine and required serious attention.
Now that the latest crisis at the university is coming to an end, we hope that radical student leaders will put to an end the habit of imposing their views on those who think differently, although they reserve the right to hold on to their views and seek a legitimate peaceful forum, that is, a democratic strike.
Likewise, we hope that government authorities and the university administration will brainstorm as to why the students` loan scheme has been a cause of many problems since its inception, and come up with concrete ways to support those who will fail to meet the given financial conditions.
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