The Sunday Mail
Senior Reporter
UKRAINE-based Zimbabwean students whose studies were disrupted by the Russian special military operation in that country will be allowed to conclude their studies at local universities, a senior official has said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, told The Sunday Mail that if the situation does not improve in the eastern European country, local universities stand ready to enrol the students.
“They can join local universities if the situation does not change in Ukraine. The details of that would be worked out by the respective universities,” said Prof Tagwira.
Most of the students were studying medicine and related programmes.
Since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, the Zimbabwean embassy in Germany has been co-ordinating efforts to evacuate students who were attached to learning institutions in that country.
Most left through Poland and Romania, where the embassy made arrangements for them to travel to Berlin before flying back to Zimbabwe.
Government bought two-way tickets for all students they evacuated to allow them to return home and also ensure that they can travel back when the situation allows.
Giving an update to The Sunday Mail, Zimbabwe’s chief diplomat to Germany, Ambassador Alice Mashingaidze, said they have evacuated all willing students from Ukraine.
“We have evacuated over 256 students and 125 had their tickets bought and are already in Zimbabwe and reunited with their families,” said Amb Mashingaidze.
There were some students who were stuck in Sumy, a city close to the Ukrainian-Russian border, but they have since been evacuated to safety.
“There was a temporary ceasefire to allow them to leave, about 25 students left. They were 30 according to the information we have.
‘‘Students remaining in not only Sumy but other places in Ukraine are still there due to personal decisions,” Amb Mashingaidze said.
