University defies High Court order reversing evictions

By Lance Guma
17 July 2007

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe Levi Nyagura, is prepared to defy a High Court order reversing the eviction of students from residence, claiming he fears for his life. Last week Friday Justice Ben Hlatshwayo ordered that students be reinstated into their halls of residence until the end of the extended semester. This followed the eviction a week ago of over 4000 students by armed riot police. Thousands remain stranded, with many sleeping out in the open. The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace even started soup kitchens to help out.

Nyagura is said to be furious the students took him to court and responded by suspending indefinitely the Vice President of the Students Executive Council Sean Macheza. A meeting between Macheza and Nyagura is said to have led to the Vice Chancellor saying Robert Mugabe (the university’s Chancellor) had told him that the Judge who had granted the order should prepare to accommodate all the evicted students at his house. Just last month Nyagura himself told one student leader to ‘go and learn at the judges house’ when he got an order setting aside his deregistration.

This week the court ordered the University to start admitting students to all the halls of residence on its main campus except for Manfred Hodson Hall, New Complex 1 and New Complex 5, which have been declared unfit for human habitation. Authorities argued that violent protests on campus last week rendered the hostels unusable, a claim dismissed by students. The hostels in question are mainly used by male students and it’s thought the university would rather readmit female students while blocking their male counterparts. UZ officials feel male students are more prone to protesting and form the bedrock of student activism.

Meanwhile it’s alleged Nyagura has said he is prepared to occupy all the halls of residence by himself than readmit the students. He openly rebuked security guards for not beating Macheza hard enough. ‘Why is that he has no marks on his face’, he is said to have asked campus security. This is despite Macheza sustaining bruises and cuts on his back after being assaulted. On Tuesday Promise Mkwananzi, the President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union, said they had already prepared a contempt of court application against Nyagura. Lawyers are expected to file this on Wednesday.