A National University of Science and Technology (NUST) student leader who was recently charged with treason has been suspended for three years from the institution for leading demonstrations against high tuition fees in November last year.

Mehluli Dube, who is the NUST students’ union vice president, was served with his suspension letter on Wednesday for allegedly leading protests at the institution demanding a reversal of high tuition fees charged at the institution.

 Police recently charged Dube with treason after he allegedly told a public meeting that if President Robert Mugabe cannot be removed from power through elections, he will be removed by the bullet.

 Treason in Zimbabwe carries a death sentence or life in prison. Dube joins PF-Zapu leaders Dumiso Dabengwa and former Zipra military supremo Lookout Masuku in the list of those once charged with treason by President Robert Mugabe's government.

 Seasoned politicians who have faced treason charges in the past few years include the late opposition leader Ndabaningi Sithole, Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and former PF-Zapu leader and nationalist Joshua Nkomo.

 According to a statement by the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Dube was suspended together with another NUST student union council member, Themba Maphenduka for causing “unrest in November last year by demanding withdrawal of high tuition fees.”

 Scores of student leaders were arrested by police last year during protests demanding the reversal of high tuition fees charged at the institution.

 NUST spokesperson, Felix Moyo, confirmed the institution has suspended for three years student union leaders for leading protests last year.

 “The two students have been suspended for three years as the university will not tolerate a situation where other students disturb the peace prevailing at the institution and cause chaos and disrupt lessons,” Moyo said.

But ZINASU says the suspension of the two “is a strategy to disqualify the two for candidature for students’ union leadership as it came a day before elections could be held to elect new student leaders