Twenty one year old Abiona Mataranyika emerged winner of the University of Zimbabwe Students Representative Council (SRC) elections becoming the first female president of the council.
Mataranyika a French and Portuguese student beat her rival by a record number of votes 2511. Since the formation of the University in 1952, SRC leadership had been dominated by males.
Monalisa Magoche, who was her campaign manager said Mataranyika victory came on the backdrop of criticism and was also victory for the girl child.
“The campaign was not easy at all. False character defamation, cyberbullying and madam president receiving various labels as a woman. The chauvinistic Zanu PF on the campus also tried hard to manipulate our votes by inciting violence upon students and the institution at large.
“Some were hurt due to the violence, stones thrown and riot police chasing students but still we managed to safeguard the students voice, the could shout hatitongwe nemukadzi vamwe vachiti ZICOSU ndiyo ichatonga (we cannot be led by a woman, ZICOSU will rule,” said Magoche.
The SRC has been dominated by males most of whom have ended up joining mainstream politics.
Spokesperson for the Movement for Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa, Daniel Molokele who was president of the SRC in 1998 described Mataranyika’s ascendency as special.
“What makes her victory even more special and historic is the fact that she is now the first female student ever in the entire history of the UZ to be elected as a students union president” said Molokele.
It remains to be seen if Mataranyika will not follow in the footsteps of former students leaders who went on to become politicians.
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BY SUCCESS MAJARAMHEPO
