H.E THABO MBEKI ABOUT THE DEATH OF STUDENTS ACTIVISM

H.E THABO MBEKI ON STUDENTS AND ACTIVISM IN AFRICA

CCG - HOPE INITIATIVE (HI) CONVERSATIONS

13TH APRIL 2012

Its true that by the time we grew up, there was a very vibrant intelligentia which was very much engaged in activism issues. But these days, there is too much intervention of the African states against the Universities. Governments see Universities as centers of opposition.This African intelligencia in the process got intimidated and the Universities have not yet recovered including financially and this calls for a conscious intervention by the African intellectauls.

"The progressive voice that was trying to define where Africa should go died away in regard to universities because of the manner in which the ruling groups in Africa acted against universities"

Further research by the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) shows that even the course units that were originally instilling activism in the students have since been changed in the universities in Uganda through the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

This in general has put Africa's progressive movement in retreat.