The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) has denounced Dr Lovemore Madhuku  (r) as a despot who amended an NGO Constitution to suit his despotic needs and who was influencing Clever Bere to hold on to the post of Zinasu President despite being voted out.

Zinasu spokesperson, Wisdom Mgagara, said the ongoing strike was being supported by the sacked Bere faction of Zinasu just as a way of trying to attract media attention.

In a statement, Mgarara said Dr. Madhuku was the centre of the controversy surrounding the man made confusion in in the student movement, yet, "he is well known for being the first person in the history of Zimbabwe's civil society to amend a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) constitution to suit his own selfish interests."

Since the People’s Convention held in 2007 Zinasu participated in resolving that the people of Zimbabwe need a people driven constitution which now sees Zinasu taking part in the Constitution-making process, said Mgarara.

But problems in Zinasu started when Clever Bere, then Zinasu President, held a bogus General Council (G.C.) meeting at MTB funded by Madhuku and attended by NCA youth sympathizers purporting to be Zinasu General Councilors and took decisions affecting Lovemore Chinoputsa, the then Secretary General, under unclear circumstances.

Proof of Madhuku's funding of the bogus process was payment for the venue which was signed by the N.C.A finance officer.

Said Mgarara, civil society organizations and the generality of people in Zimbabwe decided to take part in the ongoing constitution making process - a historic opportunity to air their views in the process, but this did not go down with Dr Madhuku who was getting unpopular because of his stiff resistance to taking part in the constitution-making process.

"In order not to lose legitimacy and relevance on the political sphere the desperate Madhuku clung on his puppets, Lovemore Matombo and Clever Bere, who took the unpopular stance at a personal level.

"The NCA, in a desperate attempt elicit support from the people, held a Take Charge conference in July 2009 where the-not-so-Clever Bere imposed a take charge agenda on behalf of students without consulting them.

"According to the Zinasu constitution, the Nation Executive Council cannot make a decision on behalf of the students without consulting the General Council which is the highest decision making body."

Mgarara also roped in the then MISA director, Takura Zhangazha, who he said was later fired for misappropriating funds, and who continues to cling to Bere because students are his only political playing ground.

A Zinasu extra ordinary general council meeting held on the 22nd of August where the students recalled Bere for misrepresenting the interest of students was attended by all Zinasu partners and Dr Madhuku was informed of the recall, but he went on to house the rebels at Bumbiro House, swindling the already broke organization.

"It is clear that the ousting of Bere created a platform for NCA to abuse the name of Zinasu by harboring the rebels, thus protecting his own personal interests ahead of the generality of students who declared to take part in the constitution-making process.

"To Madhuku, the confusion created a platform for him to settle his personal scores with his rivals. The provision of a storeroom office for these political charlatans shows how much Madhuku wants to destabilize and divide ZINASU," said Mgarara.

On the 30th of February 2010, NCA held a take Charge Campaign conference at Chinhoyi Hotel where Clever Bere co-opted students to fill in structures in the NCA branches, posts which were left when members decided to take part in the constitution.

"It is laughable for Bere and crew to misled people and the generality of students at large that it was a Zinasu Congress. It is on record that Zinasu held its 7th Bi-Annual Congress on the 19th Of December 2009 which saw the birth of new leadership led by Joshua Chinyere.

"Madhuku is well known for being the first person to amend a constitution of an organization in the Civic Society so as to extend his term of office and enjoy unlimited power over NCA. It then defies all logic for Madhuku to fight for a democratic constitution making process while he tampered with the NCA one.

"Taking the evidence into cognizance, our stance as Zinasu is that we shall not ignore the damages and confusion caused by Madhuku and his cohorts. We will take necessary measures to ensure Cde Madhuku and his anarchy leave Zinasu to manage on its own affairs.

"We shall take part in the constitution making process by ensuring that the students’ voice is captured and respected. We shall also fight by any means necessary to see an end to student victimization by college authorities.

"Lastly we shall not deviate neither compromise on students’ issues; we shall soldier on up until we have a democratic Zimbabwe which guarantees state funded education. We will advocate for the inclusion of education as a basic human right in the new constitution."