Bulawayo Polytechnic and several other technical colleges in Zimbabwe are facing mounting scrutiny following allegations of misconduct levelled against some senior lecturers. These include claims of abuse of authority, financial extortion, and inappropriate conduct toward students—allegations that come just days before the May/June 2025 HEXCO examination results are due to be marked.
In interviews conducted, two female students from Bulawayo Polytechnic alleged that certain lecturers have, over time, abused their positions of power, particularly in relation to academic grading. The students claimed that some male students are pressured into paying bribes for favourable exam outcomes, while female students who cannot afford to pay allegedly face inappropriate advances.
“One lecturer told us we could either pay or ‘negotiate differently’ if we wanted to pass,” said one student. “Some of us are scared to speak out because of fear of retaliation.”
Another student claimed that a senior staff member had boasted of having links to state security agencies, warning students that he was “untouchable.” These assertions, while still unverified, have raised concerns over student safety and the accountability mechanisms within higher education institutions.
While the specific names of the accused individuals have been withheld pending formal investigations, our newsroom can confirm that these allegations have been submitted to the relevant authorities for further inquiry.
Efforts to obtain official comment from Bulawayo Polytechnic were ongoing at the time of publication. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development is also yet to respond to requests for clarification on what safeguards are in place to protect students from such alleged abuses.
These reports have sparked broader public discourse about academic integrity, the protection of students in tertiary institutions, and the urgent need for transparent and independent mechanisms to handle complaints of misconduct.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as investigations progress.
NB// This story is sourced from Nkulumane.Com Community and does not reflect the views of the editor or the publisher.
Source: Online
