A group of 100 students left for South African universities yesterday under the Presidential Scholarship Scheme. The students, drawn from disadvantaged families, but academically gifted, were seen off by director of the programme and Manicaland provincial Governor and Resident Minister Cde Christopher Mushohwe.

The other group of 280 students left last week for South Africa.Cde Mushowe said the 100 were still to secure places at the universities when the other group left last week.

He said funding problems had seen them recruit less than 600 students nationwide."The programme did not receive enough money from the Ministry of Finance this year, we received US$3 million instead of US$54 million and that is why we didn't take many students," he added.

Cde Mushohwe said the students were supposed to work for their country for three years after graduation.

The Presidential Scholarship Programme was founded in 1995 to provide deserving students university education. Each year, the programme, whose patron is President Mugabe, draws students from each district from the country's 10 provinces.