Third year physical planning student Franklin Kadewere emerged victorious as the president in the recent Polytechnic Students Union (PSU) elections.
He has been declared the winner amid controversy following the disqualification of his rival Martin Manyozo over alleged breach of electoral guidelines.
The Polytechnic Election Commission said Kadewere’s opponent Martin Manyozo was disqualified on allegations that he did not remove posters erected for his campaign, contrary to the regulations governing the elections.
But Manyozo has vowed to appeal the decision to the Electoral Commission, saying he would take the issue all the way to the courts if the commission and management do not address his concerns.
“There were posters of other candidates around the campus. Why is it that no action was taken against these? This is selective justice,” charged Manyozo.
In an interview after the declaration of the results, the president elect said he was excited to be in the PSU driving seat, adding that the position will give him the platform to channel the challenges students are facing to the college management.
“My first task is to liaise with the management to extend library opening hours having in mind all the Covid-19 measures. Closing the library at 4pm is very inconveniencing to those who use the library computers and also the place to study,” he said.
In the elections, Sarah Chirwa a BBC 2 student became the first woman to rise to the position of PSU vice president after beating three other contestants.
Chirwa, a second year Bachelor of Business Communication student, said despite being a woman and a second-year student she was determined to contest and win because she believed that anything is possible.
“My plan is to coordinate with my fellow PSU members to approach the influential people in the government and corporate world so that they should look into this issue. No student should withdraw from the university due to lack of tuition and upkeep allowance,” she said.
