Did student counselling services fail?

THE death of a Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) student at the Mashava Campus,
a week ago, in circumstances yet to be fully established raises serious concern.
Tatenda Mhunga, the 28-year-old student from Gwanda in Matabeleland South
Province, was at the Mashava Campus in the Midlands Province, where he was
pursuing a degree in Musicology.
Considered a multi-talented person, who was an accomplished guitarist, singer,
drummer and mbira player, Mhunga was found dead in his room. There are worrying
lapses in the manner in which his case was responded to.
The night before he was found dead, it is said he had started “shaking and
hallucinating”. That incident should have been enough to trigger the student
counselling services, it there is one at the Mashava Campus or one encompassing
the GZU institution.
Yet he was left to his own room, with a friend whose help was to look him up now
and then. Ordinarily, if there is no mechanism for referring such cases, then the
friend should have been by his side until some professional help was available.
The tragic incident calls for an overhaul of the counselling services, so that students
are aware of the measures to take up in the event of any such cases in future. The
second is to ensure that each of the campuses have on-site personnel who can
respond rapidly to any emergencies.
A key step in this is to ensure all students are aware of and able to identify cases
that might require the attention of the campus counselling services. They need to
know something like basic counselling and advisory services they can administer
while awaiting professional counselling. Knowing these steps is critical because
students are with each other most of the time and are, therefore, able to detect
uncharacteristic conduct of their colleagues.
The second point Mhunga’s death raises is the kind of activities students find
themselves involved in as they explore living away from home for the first time in
their lives and because of the various pressures student find themselves trying to
cope with.
It is critical to be able to understand – for both students and campus authorities – the
difference between students who are in a serious mental health crisis and those who
are suffering from lower levels of stress, because being able to make the distinction
will help in providing the appropriate response.
For example, the major concern expressed about the youth is the prevalence of drug
and substance abuse. How safe are Zimbabwe’s campuses from this scourge?
The police have launched an on-going blitz against drug suppliers and pedlars, but
to what extent has this campaign reached campuses because of their student
densities, which make them a captive market for drug dealers?

We may never know the exact circumstances that led to Mhunga’s death but his
passing on enjoins all stakeholders to re-evaluate their policies and ensure that all
campuses are made safer for all students.
Positively applied, counselling can contribute to the emotional growth and personal
development and greater wellness of students.
Wardens at the students’ halls of residence and the student health services, should
have teams of specialists who are on hand 24/7.