Unam students threaten to break into cafeteria

UNAM had to call the Windhoek City Police on Saturday after some students threatened to break into a cafeteria and the old library to study.

The Grub cafeteria was closed in 2016 when the agreement between Unam and the company that was leasing it expired, while the training centre in the old library has not been used for a while.

When arrived in the morning, the students had already dispersed from the cafeteria while the police were talking to the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) members.

SRC president Joseph Kalimbwe told that there is not enough space for the students to study, especially during preparations for examinations.

“Therefore, the Grub and old library training centre will act as extra 24 hour study centres,” he said.

Kalimbwe produced documents dated 4 April 2017 which show that the students’ council agreed with Unam management that the cafeteria should be operational on or before 2 May 2017. Dean of students Margareth Mainga said the cafeteria was not opened as promised because of renovation delays caused by current economic situation.

“The place will remain a cafeteria, and cannot be used as a study venue. For us to change its purpose, we need to adapt it so that students can use it for study purposes,” she said, adding that there was never any agreement.

Unam management, she said, offered the students the training centre in the old library and the Cafe Unique, but they refused to use them.

Kalimbwe denied this.

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