CLAIM: Zimbabwe university fees are the lowest in the SADC region.
SOURCE: Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi.
VERDICT: Misleading, even though students at the country’s universities pay an average of between US$400 and US$600 per semester, they are not the lowest charges as the University of Swaziland charges an average of US$225.
Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi on Wednesday claimed that the country’s tertiary institutions charge way less compared to other universities in the SADC region.
Ziyambi was addressing legislators while responding to Magwegwe Member of Parliament, Anele Ndebele after he raised concern over an increase in tuition fees by tertiary institutions.
“State university fees have not been increased for over one and half years. Honourable Members are quite alive that a lot has happened within that particular period.
“If you compare when the fees were pegged at the current structure that has been reviewed and the cost of living that was there including salaries, you will realise that there was a need for a review to be done.
“When you compare the fees with what is obtaining in the region, we are the cheapest. Be that as it may, our State universities have come up with programmes to ensure that our students are cushioned in terms of having payment plans, access to loans and other support services that can be given.
“Indeed, there was a huge jump, but that was done upon a realisation that we kept the fees frozen for over one and half, if not two years, and everything else has been going up but the fees structures are not that exorbitant if you compare with the region,” Ziyambi said.
“When you compare the fees with what is obtaining in the region, we are the cheapest. Be that as it may, our State universities have come up with programmes to ensure that our students are cushioned in terms of having payment plans, access to loans and other support services that can be given.
“Indeed, there was a huge jump, but that was done upon a realisation that we kept the fees frozen for over one and half, if not two years, and everything else has been going up but the fees structures are not that exorbitant if you compare with the region,” Ziyambi said.
Two weeks ago, there was chaos as University of Zimbabwe students protested over the increase of fees leading to the arrest of over 20 students.
University fees in the SADC region
The cheapest university in the region is the University of Swaziland which charges an average of US$225.
According to https://businesstech.co.za/news/wealth/599384/how-much-it-costs-to-study-at-south-africas-top-universities/ on average, a first-year student in South African universities pays around R25 000 (US$1381)
According to https://free-apply.com/en/articles/country/933860, those studying in Botswana pay a tuition fee of US$1875.
In Angola, universities charge an average of US$1000 while in DRC, it’s around US$550.
CONCLUSION: Zimbabwean university fees are not the lowest in the SADC region
