KAMPALA – Julius Malema, a South African vocal politician who serves as Member of Parliament and the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has condemned the violence that security forces meted out on Makerere University students during the tuition strike.
“We condemn police brutality and violence against a peaceful demonstration by the students’ protestors,” a statement issued by his EFF noted and that the EFF stands in solidarity with all the students protesting against expensive universities fees at Makerere.
The EFF noted that the police and the military should not be unleashing violence on a youth that is asking for education.
“We can identify with the plight of the students who across the world faced with the fees that make access to education the privilege of the rich and powerful.
.Students two weeks ago started peaceful strike against the 15 percent cumulative increment that turned violent after security responded with highhandedness and brutally arrested students-right from their halls of residence.
There were also reports of sexual assault and harassment against female students when the military raided Mary Stuart, a girls-only hall.
The army has since denied any sexual harassment.
EFF has called on police to act with restraint because should the universities be free, “they too benefit”.
This is a direct contradiction of any self-respecting, scandalizes and terrorize a youth that is asking to go to schools curses its own future.
He added that the commodification of education is the most backward development of capitalist societies.
“Nothing about money has anything to do with academic potential and talents. As a result, many intelligent and academically deserving students and youth get marginalized by exorbitant fees or commodification of education, thus robbing society of the benefits of their brilliant,” EFF added.