UZ summons protesting graduates for hearing
By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) authorities have summoned three former students who demonstrated for jobs during the graduation ceremony in September to attend a disciplinary hearing.
The university said in letters sent to Tonderai Dombo, Thembinkosi Rushwaya and Alexander
Mukamba that they, by demonstrating at the graduation at which President Robert Mugabe was capping thousands of graduands, had breached Ordinance 30 of the UZ code.
UZ said their action was meant to disrupt the graduation.
The students held placards with messages complaining about the failure by Mugabe’s government to create jobs or graduates.
The three were on September 29 handed over to the police by Mugabe’s aides and made to pay small fines for criminal nuisance.
The university has reportedly withheld their certificates.
They were detained at Harare Central Police Station and represented by Gift Mtisi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
The university insists the trio had no right to do demonstrate, saying their conduct was likely to be harmful to the interests of the university, members of staff at the institution or students.
Meanwhile, UZ has also summoned two students, Tinotenda Mhungu and Hlalanilathi Khosa, to appear before the student disciplinary committee to answer to charges of breaching the university’s rules after they allegedly participated in an anti-government protest held on 24 August in central Harare.
The institution of higher learning says the demonstration was illegal.
The duo was arrested together with 11 other Harare residents and charged with committing public violence.
The two’s cases, however, are still before the courts. Nehanda Radio
