Court reverses university directive to bar male students from residence

By Lance Guma
16 February 2007

The High Court this week reversed an order by University of Zimbabwe authorities that sought to bar male students from all halls of residence in favour of female students. According to the student leadership the idea was to crush student activism on the campus by getting female students generally perceived as less aggressive to inhabit the hostel accommodation. The Students Executive Council however resolved to take the matter to court and challenge the directive. Rangu Nyamurundira from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights represented the students while Justice Yunus Omerjee presided over the case.

The UZ authorities published a notice in the local press on the 4 th February advising male students they could not apply for accommodation in the complexes previously reserved for them. Complexes like Montrose, Georgette, Manfred Hodson Hall, New Hall, New Complex 1 ,2 ,3 and 5 were initially reserved for males before the new directive came into effect. The student leadership decided their response stood a better chance of success if it involved students who were not members of the SEC since they felt the tendency was to politicise all their activities. It’s not yet clear whether the UZ will abide by the court decision.

Meanwhile three members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union who were being held by police were released Friday. ZINASU president Promise Mkwananzi, Maurine Kademaunga and Lawrence Mashungu, the Secretary General were arrested Tuesday alongside 29 other students and lecturers at the Harare Polytechnic. They were all charged under the Public Order and Security Act for holding a meeting with students.