University of Dar es Salaam bound to re-admit Nondo

Students Networking Programme chairman Abdu Nondo speaks in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a press conference organised by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition. With him is the Rights body’s advocate Jones Sendodo. PHOTO | SALIM SHAO

What you need to know:

  • Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) said yesterday that the Abdul Nondo, who was suspended from the University of Dar es Salaam after the State charged him in Court, must return to college immediately since the court has set him free.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) has said there was no need for any form of documentation before the University of Dar es Salaam readmits its suspended student Abdu Nondo.

Mr Nondo, who is the chairman for Students Networking Programme (TSNP), was suspended from the university in March after the State charged him with two counts of publishing false information through social media and publishing false information on WhatsApp saying his life was in danger.

The second count was giving false information at Mafinga Police Station, which claimed that he had been abducted by unknown people from Dar es Salaam to a Mafinga pyrethrum factory farm. He pleaded not guilty to all counts.

But the Iringa Court on Monday set him free after the prosecution side failed to prove the charges against him, a ruling that left pundits wondering over the academic future of the third-year student. The university is on record as having said that it would wait for official court documents to shelve Nondo’s suspension.

But TSNP said yesterday that Abdul Nondo deserved an immediate return to university since he has been set free by the court.

THRDC acting coordinator Deogratias Bwire said the students’ by-laws that the UDSM used to suspend Nondo became null and void as soon as the court announced him a free man.