Bindura University Transformation Ambassadors - buta

ambassador David Chikono and Ambassador Lawrence Mvukwe with Fse ambassadors at FSE

Timeline photos

OPEN LETTER TO Mr Makado
The Dean of students
Bindura University of Science Education

Cc BUSE outgoing SRC
Cc BUSE SRC
Cc BUSE Students and stakeholders

RE: IRREGULARITIES OF THE BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION 2016 OFFICIAL SRC ELLECTION

11 November 2016

Have decided to write this open letter in my capacity as a concerned student of Bindura University who also contested in the 2016 October SRC elections. It is very unfortunate that the university takes it very lightly how they conduct the electoral process of the highest board that has a role of representing the major stakeholder of the university, the student. We noticed a lot of irregularities associated with the elections and this article serves to identify the irregularities everyone else noticed.

We demand the university implement reforms in the 2017 and beyond SRC elections. For we have seen it fit and democratic do so as the ambassadors of transformation at BUSE for we believe transformation begins with you, me and all us, hence forth we want to transform how elections have been done at our beloved university. We are not only looking only at the elections but everything that affect the welfare of students. How the elections are conducted determine the kind of SRC board that will represent the welfare of students for a full year henceforth we decided to look into the system that elect the leadership.

Firstly we demand that the SRC should distance itself from the elections, an independent board must be given the contract to run the election. WHY: the reason is obvious the seating SRC belongs to other unions henceforth this will make the election unfair because they have the privilege to favour their unions making the election unfair and not credible.

We demand a print out and detailed budget of the 2016 elections, we demand a clear account of how the affiliation fee was used. The outgoing SRC claimed that the affiliation fees were used as a source of funding for the election but to our surprise everything within and surrounding the elections was of poor quality and compromised services. The ballots papers were printed without color on black and white. At least a detailed account of how the money was used will help unions to see the relevance of paying affiliation fee for any university election where all the students pay $3 for SRC but still demanding affiliation fee from students whilst our sister university, University of Zimbabwe every student pays one dollar for SRC and their election are successfully done with zero affiliation fee.

The elections were scheduled for Friday 21 October and were re scheduled to Monday 24 October for no apparent reason and no proper communication was done to inform the contesting unions as well as the electorates. WHY: we demand proper communication from the university and we demand at least those responsible for conducting the election to be more serious.

After failing to conduct the election on the 21th of October on the following Monday the Election Day a lot of mix ups was noticed on the ballot papers. At FSE polling station BUTA presidential candidate was carrying a logo belonging to NEBU. The BUTA logo was the smallest and it was not clear.

At TC polling station the so-called trained presiding officers were at one point giving voters more ballots papers exceeding the required number upon recognized these avoidable mistakes the election was stopped in the two mentioned polling station respectively there by nullifying the voices of the voters who had casted their votes before those errors were noticed.

The names of the presidential candidates were written in short in ballots papers at FSE polling stations:

TB – Roby

BUTA- Lawrence

The million dollar question WHY shortening the names of candidates what if the electorate was familiar with the surname or second names? I guess shortening the names was a way to limit the cost of printing at the expense of the same candidate who paid affiliation fee used to print the ballot paper. TC polling station: On the ballot of one the independent candidate the ballot paper was wrongly cut and his details could be hardly seen yet the same candidate paid affiliation fee for his ballot to be processed.

Why charging so much affiliation fees for a student to exercise his/her democratic right of being elected into an office? Universities like the UZ among other more democratic universities have nothing related to the affiliation fees and any student qualifies to participate democratically in any election after simply paying a dollar of student union fees inclusively charged on their very reasonable semester fees.

The university appointed BUSCES a club made of Christian students from different on campus churches to preside over the election. As l write this letter BUSCES has not being paid, these are ordinary students who sacrificed their study time to make sure the election was a success but however you have decided to deprive them from their allowances and to make matters worse no communication was done the last communication you did with BUSCES was when they were in their respective votes counting rooms. l guess you took advantage of BUSCES because it is a christian organisation and they cannot demand or question you because they uphold Christian values. We demand to know who is responsible who must pay BUSCES and why delaying?

In simple terms the responsible authority (outgoing SRC) tempered around with the ballot papers so how can we attain a free fair and credible election when the ballot itself is in total mess.

To worsen matters the contractor who did the ballots papers was the same contractor who was doing the Students Voice campaigning regalia already this arrangement is very suspicious???????????????????

The same contractor delayed the processing of NEBU campaigning posters. This is a situation which need clarification from the outgoing SRC we need a detailed explanation WHY messing around with the ballot paper and can we call it coincident that NEBU, SV, SRC were using the same contractor for regalia, posters and the ballot paper respectively?????????????

We demand a total transformation of the election regulation if a candidate is disqualified after the vetting process he/she must be refunded because he/she is no longer contesting meaning the budget is already reduced.

We are happy the 2016 election results were announced to the union agents and to the candidates early hours of Tuesday 25 October a day after the Election Day but however up to now there was no proper communication to the electorate about the election results WHY?

We demand that student affairs together with the current SRC to look very closely into all the raised arguments in preparation of the next elections at BUSE. WE also demand that the student affairs and t the outgoing SRC to respond to all the issues in this article.

I THANK YOU

Comradely

Lawrence Mvukwe Bindura University Student

0778444985

[email protected]

*Open letter to Prof. Mwenje*
The Vice Chancellor
Bindura University of Science Education
Bindura
Zimbabwe

cc. The Dean of Students
cc. The BUSE SRC
cc. BUSE students
cc. BUTA members and principals
cc. Lawrence Mvukwe- BUTA President

01 December 2016

Dear Sir

*RE: Academic semester wind down in pursuit for a Student focused BUSE Administration*

Because of the ever increasing inhuman nature of the BUSE administration supported by a series of inconsiderate and undemocratic policies, l, *Blessing Kambumbu*, in my capacity as the National Programs Coordinator of BUTA-Bindura University Transformation Ambassador, found it democratically relevant to draft this letter of students' concern pertaining to absence of a vibrant SRC at BUSE.

The issues of concern are genuine and clear so as our demands.

_*1. Part Finals deregistration*_

As much as we would like to understand your reasons for deregistering the part finals because of the part one courses pending, we want answers as to why your ruthless admin allowed them to register from the first place and allowed them to attend lectures, only to send them back home after you have ignorantly used our money.

This clearly shows that the system is only after the students' hardly earned money and have nothing to do with equipping and developing necessary skills for their careers but is rather being run as a commercial business to fund the luxurious lives of a few pot-bellied greedy individuals.

Do you even consider at any point in time, the need for consulting the students? What then will you do to someone whose semester has been wasted through the so called deregistration process considering our non performing economy where resources are so scarce.


_*2. Medical aid not functioning*_

It is in the public domain that the part 4s and the 1s do not have medical aid cards and we expect that you are much aware of the situation. Those with the cards still face a lot of hike ups getting medical aid assistance.

After paying our full fees or an agreed amount, it is the administration's duty to ensure that our health concerns are catered for. Do you want us to die first that you can provide us with the medical aid cards? To make matters worse, our medical department is inefficient and poorly equipped.

_*3. On campus rez and mean university workers*_

It is much saddening and so questionable how the accommodation process and allocation is being carried out on campus. Greedy and corrupt mafikizolos have undertaken the university into their own hands and are accelerating the downfall of the college with highly increasing cases of corruption.

As the students, we are not happy with the way some of the university subordinates treat us, the major stakeholders of the university. We are adults and we pay for the services and are getting more intolerant to the treatment we get from the workers. The same applies to the rest of the overzealous security personnel.

Warn your secret security personnel from abusing and forcing our dear sisters into relationships using our money and the tax payer's, money they are getting taking advantage of the economic hardships our sisters are exposed to on campus.

_*4. The 1500 seater library and transport*_

We would obviously want to appreciate the work of the admin so as your effort on speeding the completion of the library construction. However, a lot still needs to be done.

The library has to be furnished and we need more but relevant books as well as an improvement on the other facilities. There is need for a back-up power generator in case of power outages as well as improved security facilities. It is on record that one of our fellow college mates lost a laptop just after there was a power outage at the library and haven’t been able to recover it since then.

The new Yutong bus is smoothly functioning, that was very considerate of you. We can't fail to recognise the effort the admin is putting on trying to provide transport to and from different destinations especially from the library at night.

_*5. The SRC election process*_

The admin had since denied us our democratic right to freely vote for our student representatives so as contesting in those elections through inhuman and undemocratic regulations which need to be revised.

We demand the removal of the affiliation fees especially considering the quality of services and materials used on the election day. Why charging that kind of money on our already high fees considering that some democratic universities like the University of Zimbabwe can smoothly run the elections from a dollar the students contribute as the SRC membership affiliation deducted from their reasonable fees.

The electoral reforms have to be put in place and there is no need to send our nomination forms to outside bodies for vetting and we say no to the nomination fees or whatever you call them. Being a registered student with a valid student ID should be enough.

We paid a huge amount in the form of affiliation fees which the former SRC convinced us that it was for a smooth running of the electoral process. Where did our money go when we had black and white ballot papers with some of the candidates’ details not visible or cut-out. Our presidential candidate on the ballot paper had a NEBU logo with the rest of the ministerial candidates having unclear or very small logos and shortened names.

*Please furnish us with the report on how the money for the affiliation is used*

Otherwise we might continue to believe that it is only meant for the benefit of a few individuals and is not being used as intended to and is funding the unfairness of the electoral process forcing us to call the elections null and void.

There wasn’t any proper communication on the reason why the election was shifted from 21 October so as there wasn’t any proper communication on the rescheduled date which affected our candidates.

_*6. Puppet and passive SRC*_

Due to the fact that there wasn't any fair and democratic election at BUSE, we declare BUSE as being operating without any student representation. As BUTA doesn't recognise this illegitimate SRC which is only visible when organising irrelevant bashes with a closed mouth on real student issues probably because you have threatened them or they are your puppets or you don’t give them enough room to operate. Equally we can't overlook the fact that they are incompetent and very ignorant.

As students we are just asking for a reasonable justice and an administration that put our issues on their priority list backed up by value-for-our-money services. We demand proper consultation and involvement especially on issues that affect us.

For the student today is the nation today and tomorrow.
Nothing for the students without the students.






_more about BUTA_

Contact:
BUTA President *Lawrence Mvukwe* 0778444985 [email protected]
BUTA National Programs Coordinator *Blessing Kambumbu* 0777837916 [email protected]

Wishing you the best in your exams and endurance to the economic hardships this coming Christmas and a progressive with better administration new year.

Comradely yours

The concerned General

*Blessing Kambumbu*
BUTA National Programs Coordinator
0777837916
[email protected]

door to door campaign , meet the students campaign with ambassador Lawrence Mvukwe

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Timeline photos

meet the student campaign still on pregress

meet the student campaign

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Timeline photos

Nebu hv stolen BUTA'S 15 point plan and they have edited it , kuita iite yavo 15 point plan ye ma ambassadors kkkkkkk poor politicking chinhu ku BUTA ahoy ma ambassadors ahoyiiiiiiiiiiioi BUTA mu office pfeee

Campaign is moving on well at all campuses. Everyone is free to join the campaigning team
# ngazviende mberi

mberi buta

Timeline photos

Timeline photos

THE MANIFESTO
Bindura University Transformation Ambassadors (BUTA
VOTE BUTA AND THE FOLLOWING WILL BE AT YOUR DISPOSAL
1. Fees for students on attachment MUST be reduced -Students on attachment will not be using 100% of the University’s facilities, Fees for student on attachment must be reduced to at least 60% of the current fees.
2. Flexing of registration dates -Because of economy hardships, our parents are not getting paid in time. Your vote will enable BUTA to advocate for a fair and unselective fees paying plan and the admin engagement platform to negotiate for a reasonable payment plan.
3. Accommodation fee MUST be reduced-No to fees hikes until economy stabilizes. School accommodation fees increment gives an opportunity for those who provide students accommodation in the Suburbs to raise their rentals. All registered boarding houses to charge fair prices. The rental prices should be set in agreement with the University, Say No to more than $250 per semester.
4. Feedback and effective information dissemination-Dissemination of information is key on student’s representation. BUTA is promising to take your concerns and grievances to the rightful authority and demand for the feedback to prove that the massage has been sent and received BUTA will practice meet the students and meet the administration tours to settle all student grievances.
5. Student involvement on decision making -The matters that affect students should not be addressed without consulting the students themselves. BUTA will create platforms that promote dialogue between the students and relevant authorities.
6. Support of students Entrepreneurship and Clubs - The University should support students clubs and projects, Student must be given grants to start their projects. BUTA will make sure that the University support student’s initiatives. Clubs day to be held at the University campus with the relevant authorities once or twice a month. BUTA will make all SRC projects function properly and effective including availability of basic commodities in all campuses tuck shops.
7. Negotiate for Industrial Attachment with BUSE stakeholders - Bindura University is a big institution with a number of stakeholders that have potential to attach its students. BUTA will push the University to make negotiations with these stakeholders to attach students from relevant degree programs.
8. Transport provision - If similar colleges like NUST, GZU, CUT, MSU and LUPANE regardless of their affordable fees can offer transport to the students, why can’t we enjoy the same privilege? BUTA wants flexible and reliable time table, transport to ferry students from different suburbs. Pick up and drop off points will be negotiated with Authorities.
9. Maximum Utilization of the E-learning platform - The website and announcement platforms on e-learning are underutilized. BUTA will advocate for maximum utilization of available resources.
10. Improvement of the computers and WIFI facilities-The University is responsible for adding more computers and WIFI connectivity in the lecture rooms. Why are we struggling to get access to internet? WIFI should be easily accessible anywhere, at every BUSE Campus, be it in lecture hall, hall of residence etc. Learning materials are available online these days and should be easily accessible.
11. Advocate for On-campus entertainment and refreshment space -All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. The student bar should be opened at Main Campus, Refreshing off-campus compromise our safety and most of our sisters are being abused. Free music galas for student.
12. Equal opportunities and treatment to all students - BUTA advocate for equal opportunities and treatment of all students including the science education students to take part in university programs and updated regularly like any other students.
13. Decentralization of all university activities - Activities of the university such as clubs activity must be active and present at all campuses.
14. Sports Policy - BUTA will introduce a new sports policy in an attempt to improve sport activity at BUSE. The policy will include creation of grounds for different games including rugby, basketball and cricket as well as reasonable allowances for participants.
15. Supplementary Exams- BUTA will introduce supplementary exams to students who fail certain courses for the first time.
NB: Transformation begins with me, you and all of us, (iwe neni tine basa) LETS ALL BE AMBASSODORS OF TRANSFORMATION

on attachment must pay less fees
Leadership
of registration period
decision making
environment improvements
transport provision
to Wi-Fi problems

THE EMERGING FORCE LEADING NOW, VOTE BUTA OCTOBER 2016 SRC ELECTIONS

*_Excuses on the road to Transform
Buse :_*

*"We don’t have the time.”*
_Reality: Success of Transforming BUSE doesn’t come from having time. It comes from making time._
*“We don’t have the money or resources .”*
_Reality: We don’t need money or resource to improve our welfare as students . We need our mission & vision .
*“We don’t know the right people.”*
_Reality:We can change who we are & be the right people,doing the right thing to improve our welfare
*“It’s not the right time.”*
_Reality: There is always a right action in good times and bad times, which means it is always the right time._
*“It’s not that easy to transform BUSE.”*
_Reality: No it’s not. Which is why many students never try,or waiting, for SRC
to represent us and most students never reach their full potential. But team BUTA is not associated with
most people._BUTA is associated with students who are united just to create a favorable tetiary Environment -BUTA emphasizes, on participatory approach(from the students to the administration) not the other way round
*“We don’t deserve it.”*
_Reality: Transformation is not for those who deserve most, but those who serve most._so the transformation we want begins with YOU-ME & ALL US
*_What’s stopping us?_* _Transformation doesn't go to those who have the most ambition, but those who have the least excuses. Excuses are the brake pedals in this Transformation agenda, and you can’t get going if the
brakes are on._
*So lets join the ngazviendemberi team BUTA &
start by replacing every excuse with action.*

to join the ambassadors

contact

facebook -Bindura University Transformation Ambassadors (BUTA)

Email [email protected]

BUTA Public Relations 0777322624(Brighton)

Recruitment 0771007888(Marufu P)

l thank you

Regards

BUTA Information & publicity 0779396181(Madondo)

Those who want our form of identification contact ambassador Faith on 0718405553
and ambassador Zvikomborero on 0771869749 for logistics.
Those who want their names on their T shirts you are welcome

We the students of Bindura University
United in our diversity by our common desire for transformation operating as BINDURA UNIVESITY TRANSFORMATION AMBASSADORS (BUTA)

1. VISION

A tertiary environment which meets the international standards in every aspect including a better student welfare, provision of timely services by the university, with a student initiated decisions in administration issues.

2. MISSION

Committed to provision of total transformation at BUSE, based on the implementation of strategies to meet needs of students.

Philippians 1:12 “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,”

Let this scripture inspire this movement,
Let us live with the gospel of transformation
They will try to stop this team,
Sabotage being the order of the day,
They will call us names BUT they cannot stop us, lets unite for a purpose, we are not here to create groups, chikwata chananhingi chinoleader na nhingi,
We are not an enemy of other unions but we are student focused,
We are here to unite students,
We are here to stay we are not worried about leadership or posts, we are worried about how best we can move together as students,
Ngazviendemberi meaning we are moving forward ever,
We are ready to do whatever it takes to improve Bindura University students welfare, thus total transformation for you,
We are not controlled by any one, we don’t report to any political set up,
We are guided by the needs, views and students grievances,
We as BUTA lets create a link between our institution administration, ministry and us students nothing more nothing less,
Gone are the days when student activism was controlled by political interests,
Let’s work together as students in this transformation journey it’s not easy but there is power in unity of purpose.
“Alone I can Say but together we can talk
Alone l can Enjoy but together we can celebrate”

You are all cordially invited to join the ngazviendemberi team
To be part of the ambassadors contact the BUTA recruiting team
Loroh- 0778444985

I thank you


teambuta

On behalf of Bindura University Transformation Ambassadors
(BUTA),as we are approaching the end of this semester,i would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and blessed vacation. To those who are still going on with their exams,we just say finish well guys and also to those who will be going for their industrial attachment,we wish you a fruitful year of your industrial learning. We just pray that our Lord Almight will help you to get your attachments in time in this deteriorating economy. To my fellow part 3s who adress currently on attachment,we just say finish well guys,it was a good experience and a blessing from God to be on this stage of our academic education.To the departing part 4s,it was nice being witht you at BUSE guys,we will really cherish the moments we shared together. We just wish you the best in your life,may the dear Lord be with you wherever you are going to be and may he also bless you with the jobs you wish to have. Just know that God who have allowed us to be together at BUSE will also allow us to meet again in future.

BUTA FLASH BACK for semester FEB-JUN 2016
ACADEMIC ISSUES
-Removal of special exams
-Too high amount for carry course
-Poor learning Environment (TOWN CAMPUS)
-Unnecessary fees increment
-Improvements in accessing WIFI especially at ASTRAr where Telone routers were established
TRANSPORT

-A bus was introduced to ferry students from library. It really assisted the disadvantaged Trojan mine residence
-Astra students could not easily access the bus
SPORT
-Lack of adequate transport to ferry students from point A to B at ZUSA games
-Poor state of grounds especially the netball grounds
- Insufficient amount for students to purchase food at ZUSA games
Thumps up to our volleyball teams the INVINCIBLES for raising
our BUSE flag high at the ZUSA games regardless of all the unfavorable conditions faced by
them in reaching the finals
ENTERTAINMENT
- Miss BUSE cancelled
-No bash party was held
-BUTA shall always strive for peaceful ways, strategies and policies to solve and deal away with
challenges similar to those faced this semester by ensuring proper communication between the students and the authorities.

Regards: BUTA Info & Publicity office (0779045522)

I thank you

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Who & Why BUTA

BUTA is an independent students' union operating with the motive of improving the welfare of the students as well as the learning environment free from political influence or motive and it was formed on the 29th of December 2015. B U T A stands for BINDURA UNIVERSITY TRANSFORMATION AMBASSADORS.

BUTA is a non-discriminate students' union where anyone willing to join and operate bound or guided by our Constitution and the Code of Conduct is accepted.

BUTA is willing to operate with the responsible authorities to ensure that the rights of the students are respected and the welfare of the students learning environment is improved by suggesting possible ways or policies to implement.


BUTA respects that Zimbabwe is a very peaceful country and respects the Constitution of Zimbabwe drafted for and by the citizens of Zimbabwe, therefore the alliance operates peacefully and shall always strive for peaceful ways and policies to solve some grievances and misunderstandings between the students and the authorities.

BUTA, in its operation, is guided by the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Common Law, the Acts of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, the rules and regulations at the institutions it shall be operating in and its own Constitution.

BUTA seeks to brew and raise a breed of students to equip them with leadership skills for the restoration of our beloved country, continent and the globe at large.

BUTA, unlike other students’ organizations, goes far beyond a microscopic view of confining to the welfare of just tertiary students but uniquely seeks to improve the pernicious and deplorable learning conditions of students at each and every level at each and every part of the nation, continent or world.

BUTA does not mainly focus on university political leadership only but goes on mentoring and nurturing students to be great local and international leaders in all aspects of life including economic, business, religious as well as social through its unique and diversified programs.

BUTA desires to be a voice for the voiceless students.

VISION

A tertiary environment which meets the international standards in every aspect including a better student welfare, provision of timely services by the university, with a student initiated decisions in administration issues.

MISSION

Committed to provision of total transformation at BUSE, based on the implementation of strategies to meet needs of students.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

NB. BUTA advocate for the protection of students rights and improved welfare improved. Therefore, our main aims and objectives are:

a). To contest for the seats in the Students Representative Council (SRC) or equivalent bodies at the institutions the Alliance shall be allowed to operate in to make sure that the students are represented in every case of their concern.

b). To stand and fight for the students where their rights are being compromised.

c). To ensure that the students make a full and rich contribution to the work of the university Administration.

5. CORE VALUES:
Student focused
Integrity and honesty
Effectiveness and efficiency
Commitment and loyalty
Performance driven
Time consciousness
Team spirit
Personal accountability