The University of Dar es Salaam will hold fresh presidential elections for the student body in September, following a vote of no confidence against the newly elected leadership. A spokesperson for the University Students' Representative Committee (USRC), Mr Joshua Sammuel, yesterday confirmed the latest developments.
He said the committee passed a vote of no confidence against the entire Dar es Salaam University Students Organisation (Daruso) Cabinet during a meeting held on Friday.
The rejected cabinet, led by Patience Mlowe, had spent barely a month in office after the Daruso elections, which were held in April this year.
Controversy marred the recent elections, with students accusing the university management of interfering with student politics.
There was also low voter turnout following riots at the university last month.
The students went on rampage after the administration disqualified a popular Ugandan student, Odongo Odwar, from the presidential contest on grounds that he had not presented his Form six certificate on admission in 2005.
Students believed the decision was a move to quash dissenting voices against the administration. But it is still not clear whether Odwar, who is still believed to be the students' favourite presidential candidate, will be allowed by the administration to contest in the September elections or not.
However, disqualifying him could spark unrest once again in the restive student politics at the institution of higher learning, which has been seriously affected by a series of disturbances of late.
Last week, several students vowed not to recognise the new cabinet, which they said was sympathetic to university management and did not have majority support.
According to Daruso constitution, should there be a vote of no confidence against a president as in the current case, fresh elections are supposed to be held within 21 days.
An interim 22-member Daruso board will now run student affairs until fresh elections are held next semester.
The board is made up of chairpersons and secretaries of the university's 11 faculties.
UDSM administration met the interim leadership on Friday to discuss the latest developments and accepted the motion of no confidence.