Monday, February 7, 2011

Protest Up Date

Well the events are already changing!


Newest development happened just minutes ago! The UDSM student government officials just went around to each hall and announced the plain from this point forward. Tomorrow classes will resume as the UDSM student government officials meet with Tanzanian Government officials regarding the amount and timing of the release of funds to the students. If the Tanzanian Government will give the students 100,000 shl each for the last 5 weeks of the semester and guarantee this increase up-front for the start of the 2nd semester the students will be satisfied. If not the plan is to strike Wednesday and Thursday and rest Friday. This strike two days rest one will be used until the Tanzanian Government gives them what they want. This will keep the UDSM from canceling the semester and allow the students to take their final exams as well as fight for what they want.

What does this mean for the Mzungu (white person)? That is a very good question. While we are "safe" and shouldn't be forced into marching - classes will not be going on campus and there is high possibility that we would get stuck in the cross fire. Don't get me wrong I would love to stay on campus and hear/watch what is going on, but the reality is that we should probably be leaving campus.

It is most likely we will get to stay on campus tonight because we are 99% sure there will be no striking tomorrow. Then we will probably be moved off campus and starting our Zanzibar trip early! Which I am ok with getting an extra day or two there, but it just takes us way from what is going on here and the reality of it all!

Correction to last post:
Nasra has corrected me. The duca did deserve what they got. The workers knew the students were protesting about their dally allowance and still went ahead and tripled their prices! So not ok!

So until the next news release! Kim    


   

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