On May 12, 2025, University of Zimbabwe (UZ) police arrested six student leaders for participating in a spontaneous peace protest on campus. The university later temporarily suspended all six students.
The students were protesting the scheduling of end of semester exams and demanding higher pay for lecturers. At the time of the protest, lecturers had been on strike for over a month. The students argued that they could not take exams because they had received no recent instruction and demanded that UZ resolve the situation by paying lecturers fairly. Videos from the protest show the students holding brightly colored signs and making speeches outside on campus. UZ security detained six students, including the UZ spokesperson of the Zimbabwe National Students Union Narshon Kohlo, Tafadzwe Katsande, Blessing Mtis, Tawananyashe Hove, Nodesha Maingehama and Tariro Mtukura, and brought them to the local police station. They were released later that day after being charged a fine.
On July 11, it was reported that UZ had suspended all six students for their participation in the protest. UZ’s vice-chancellor accused the students of putting the university in disrepute and of violating the university’s rules by “holding an unlawful demonstration” in university residence halls. The university reversed the suspensions a few days later; the university’s registrar sent letters to all six students stating that UZ had reconsidered its decision.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the arrests and temporary suspension of students for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression – conduct which is expressly protected under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. State authorities have a responsibility to refrain from restricting the nonviolent exercise of such rights. Universities have a responsibility to refrain from wrongful disciplinary action taken against students for exercising their rights to academic freedom, freedom of expression, and freedom of association. Even when reversed, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and undermine democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20250521135801819
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/university-of-zimbabwe-students-arrested-as-lecturers-strike-sparks-flash-protests/
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/uz-reinstates-students-suspended-after-protesting-in-support-of-lecturers-strike/
https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local-news/article/200043773/uz-suspends-6-students
https://www.facebook.com/groups/693325521933510/posts/1361125331820189/
https://x.com/Zinasuzim/status/1921949686945988909
https://www.facebook.com/reel/673217462161736