UZ medical students remain homeless as university refuses to comply with High Court order

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) medical students are still homeless after the institution refused to comply with a High Court order. According to lawyer and activist Douglas Coltart, UZ security guards are refusing the students re-entry.

On Wednesday 28 June, Harare High Court Judge Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa ruled against the University of Zimbabwe and said that the institution’s eviction of medical students by was irrational. The ruling followed an urgent application which was filed by medical student Clifford Charera who was represented by Bellinda Chinowawa and Noble Chinhanu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

The students were evicted for protesting against an increase in fees after the university alleged that they had turned violent and started throwing stones. The lawyers argued that that the notice period given to the students to move out of the university halls of residence was unreasonably short, given how difficult it is to secure alternative accommodation. Justice Nyaradzo Munangati-Manongwa agreed with the application and overturned the university’s arbitrary decision to evict the medical students from their halls of residence.