On June 26, 2025, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) fired four Association of University Teacher (AUT) leaders for their role in leading lecturers’ strike.
UZ lecturers began striking in demand of higher wages in early April 2025. On March 28, AUT wrote to UZ’s registrar requesting to use the university’s great hall on April 2, to hold a vote to decide whether the lecturers would go on strike. The registrar did not respond; however, according to the AUT, on April 2, the university opened the hall and brought a UZ legal officer and security guards to oversee the vote.
On April 4, UZ accused AUT of using the hall without authorization and suspended five AUT leaders – President Munyaradzi Chamburuka, Secretary-General Boncase Mwakorera, Spokesperson Obvious Vengayi, Organizing Secretary Justin Tandire, and Legal Adviser Munyaradzi Gwisai – accusing them of inciting riotous behavior and violence. The university reversed the suspensions on April 28 without providing an explanation.
On May 6, UZ again suspended AUT leaders, including President Chamburuka, Secretary-General Mwakorera, Spokesperson Vengayi, and Organizing Secretary Tandire, accusing them of insubordination for using the great hall for balloting. On June 26, after carrying out disciplinary proceedings, the university dismissed them, stating that their dismissal was effective from the beginning of their suspension. There was no information publicly available about the disciplinary proceedings.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the dismissal of university lecturers for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly – 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. Universities have a responsibility to refrain from wrongful disciplinary action taken against students for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and undermine democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/university-of-zimbabwe-dismisses-striking-lecturers/
https://www.newzimbabwe.com/uz-weaponising-disciplinary-processes-to-intimidate-punish-union-leaders-teachers-union/
https://allafrica.com/stories/202504170009.html
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-252365.html
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-254423.html
https://www.instagram.com/p/DL9q1jINzMV/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DL-ELVyo6Jw/