The High Court of Zimbabwe has set aside last year’s fees increase by the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
UZ students filed an urgent chamber application in September 2022 seeking an order reversing the 700 percent fee hike.
Undergraduate students were required to pay ZWL$500 000 while Masters students were required to pay a million for each semester.
In their application, the students, who were represented by the UZ Students Representative Council (SRC), said the raising of fees by the institution was unreasonable and irrational since the government had allocated $3.3 billion in the National Budget approved by the Parliament.
They submitted to the court that they could not afford the fees since most of them come from poor backgrounds.
In his ruling, High Court Judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, ordered that the fees increase, effected by UZ, be set aside.
Justice Chitapi further ordered UZ to pay the costs of the application incurred during the process. <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/uz-fees-structure-resembles-a-tuckshop/">He ruled</a>:
<blockquote>
The first respondent (UZ Vice Chancellor Paul Mapfumo) was quite expected to be guided by the University Act which is clear on what powers he has as well as the powers of the Council and Senate.
It was quite astonishing that even the issue of payment of the increased fees was reduced to a tuckshop operation where discounts were given to students depending on the percentage of the total fees due if paid by a given date.
</blockquote>
In a notice dated 01 September 2022, UZ stated that those who were to pay 100 percent of their fees by the 31st of October 2022 were to enjoy a 12.5 percent discount.
It said those who pay 75 percent of their fees by 31 of October will enjoy a 10 percent discount while those that pay 50 percent will enjoy a 5 percent discount.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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High Court Rules UZ Fees Structure Resembles A Tuckshop

The High Court has ordered the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) not to withhold students’ results on account of non-payment of tuition fees.
The UZ Students Representative Council (SRC) approached the courts challenging UZ’s decision to increase tuition fees in 2022.
UZ also restricted students’ access to the examination results via its online platform if they had not settled the arrears of tuition fees it had gazetted.
On Friday, 20 January, High Court judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, ordered UZ to release examination results to the concerned students and arrange a payment plan with them for outstanding fees.
Justice Chipato also froze the hike of fees by UZ pending the court case in which the students are arguing, through their lawyer Tendai Biti, that the increase was unconstitutional and unjustified. Said the judge:
<blockquote>
Pending the delivery of judgment in Case No. HC 6194/22 reserved by Hon. Chitapi Jon 30 November 2022, the 1st respondent shall not enforce tuition fees set out in ordinance No. 63 dated 6 September 2022.
The 1st respondent is interdicted from withholding the release of results of the two applicants and other students represented by the 1st applicant on account of non-payment of the tuition fees set out in the ordinance.
The first applicant’s members and the second applicant shall however be required upon collection of their results to enter into payment arrangements with the first respondent in terms of which they undertake to pay the difference of the tuition fees set out in ordinance 63 and the previous semester fees levied before the ordinance. Each party bears its own cost.
</blockquote>
UZ was cited as the first respondent with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary education as the second respondent. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/high-court-orders-uz-to-release-of-examination-results-orders-institution-not-to-enforce-fee-hike/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

High Court Orders UZ To Release Exam Results And Bars Fees Hike

Higher, Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Amon Murwira has justified the recent tuition fee increase at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) arguing that the government is already subsidising tertiary education in the country.
The UZ hiked fees by more than 700 per cent, with students now expected to pay an equivalent of US$1 000 per semester.
Speaking at a Press conference on Thursday as he welcomed a Russian Federation delegation that is set to tour the country’s tertiary institutions, Murwira said:
<blockquote>
If only we could compare Zimbabwe with southern Africa, we have a relatively lower level of fees. I am avoiding saying the word cheap because we are subsidising higher education.
If we were not subsiding, it would be around US$10 000. The issue with the UZ is that they met on August 18 and they agreed on the fees that they are going to charge. Let’s separate politics (from) education. We are not going to entertain that.
</blockquote>
The tuition fee hike sparked protests at the UZ’s Mt Pleasant campus that resulted in 19 students being arrested early this week.
UZ Students Representative Council (SRC) spokesperson Takunda Gift Chinoda denied claims that there was an agreement on the new fee structure. He said:
<blockquote>
As SRC we want to distance ourselves from the claim by the administration that we agreed on the 30% US dollar increment of fees.
The administration justified the fee hike whereas SRC disagreed.
</blockquote>
Chinoda called on students to continue putting pressure on UZ authorities to reverse the fee increment. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200000544/minister-defends-uzs-1000-fee-hike">NewsDay</a>

Minister Murwira Defends University Of Zimbabwe Tuition Fees Hike

Amnesty International (AI) has condemned the arrest of more than a dozen University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students who were arrested following a protest at the Mt Pleasant Campus on Monday.
The students were peacefully protesting against the recent unilateral tuition fee hikes which they felt were too exorbitant and beyond the reach of many.
In a statement Thursday, Lucia Masuka, Executive Director of Amnesty International Zimbabwe, urged authorities to drop the charges against the students. She said:
<blockquote>
Authorities must drop sinister charges against University of Zimbabwe students who have been peacefully protesting high fees and affirm their right to freedom of assembly and expression.
It is such a travesty of justice that these students are having to spend time in detention and courtrooms for simply asking for affordable education so that they can remain in lecture rooms.
The arrests of these students, who were protesting peacefully, are a violation of their right to protest.
Authorities must respect students’ right to peaceful protest and drop all charges against them.
We consider the arrests to be arbitrary and call on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to respect the freedom to petition and demonstrate as guaranteed by the constitution.
</blockquote>
The 14 students who were arrested on Monday, detained and charged with disorderly conduct were identified as Thelma Nzero, Mufaro Vhutuza, Owen Mashaya, Tinashe Zana, Tinotenda Mwenje, Fletcher Katehwe, Havana Mtetwa, Natasha Dhliwayo, Ropafadzo Mutangadura, Fatima Ajida, Tsungai Chitodha, Beyond Wendy Siwela, David Musasa, and Godknows Zabhura.
Five other students were arrested on Wednesday. They have been identified as Tivimba Musengi, Tinotenda Mangana, Hazel Gwande, Tanyaradzwa Nzvimbo, and Charles Moyo.
Some of the students were released on bail while others were released late on Tuesday after paying ZW$2 000 admission of guilt fines for disorderly conduct.
The students were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/amnesty-international-condemns-crackdown-on-protesting-uz-students-calls-for-end-to-arbitrary-arrests/">New Zimbabwe.com</a>

Amnesty International Condemns Arrest Of UZ Students

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students have petitioned Parliament seeking it to intervene over the recent sharp tuition fees hike and guarantee that they enjoy their right to education.
This comes after UZ increased its fees by more than 600%. Undergraduates will now pay $485 500, up from $60 526, while those studying for masters programmes will fork out $1 million per semester. Reads the petition:
<blockquote>
The proposed tuition fees are not considerate of the other essential expenses every student has to go through.
Most students are not from Harare which means they need to cover their accommodation and with where the university campus is located, surrounded by low-density suburbs, the accommodation charges are higher than US$50 per month.
The average salary of a civil servant is US$175. At that amount, the majority of parents cannot afford to pay the proposed fees since they also have to cover family basic expenses.
To consider our petition as an urgent matter and immediately intervene in the UZ fees-making process to guarantee that the right to basic education is respected through the charging of affordable fees.
</blockquote>
The students said the tuition fees must be pegged at $200 000 and below for all degree programmes. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200000441/parliament-petitioned-over-hefty-uz-fees">NewsDay</a>

UZ Students Petition Parliament Over Tuition Fees Hike

Sixteen (16) University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students were arrested Monday for participating in a demonstration at the Mt Pleasant campus over a recent tuition fee hike.
The students were expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
They were reportedly dragged out of hostels by the police using evidence of pictures circulating on social media.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said that three student leaders were assaulted while in police detention.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has condemned the arrests and demanded the students’ unconditional release. It said:
<blockquote>
The number of students arrested as of Monday’s UZ demo has risen to 16. We continue to call for the unconditional release of the students, who we believe have no case to answer for all they did was peacefully demand affordable university fees.
</blockquote>
UZ increased undergraduate fees were increased from ZW$50 000 to between ZWL$300 000 and ZWL$500 000, while some Master’s degree students will need to pay ZWL$1 million.
The tuition fee hike prompted students to protest on campus threatening to boycott classes until the increase is reversed. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/16-uz-students-arrested-for-staging-fees-protest-expected-in-court-today/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

16 UZ Students Arrested For Protesting Over Tuition Fees Hike

Harare lawyer Tendai Biti has criticised the country’s biggest university, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), for increasing tuition fees, describing the hike as “unjustified, irrational and unlawful.”
UZ recently increased tuition fees from ZWL$50 000 to half a million Zimbabwean dollars.
Biti, who is a former Minister of Finance, warned that parents and guardians will find it difficult to raise the new fees. He said:
<blockquote>
The massive tuition fee increases of over 700% at the University of Zimbabwe are irrational and unlawful.
Asking parents to fork out US$1 300 per semester for tuition alone is ridiculous.
Moreso when UZ received an additional $4.5 billion in the Supplementary Budget to take the total to $7.9 billion.
Education is a basic human right protected by section 88 of the Constitution. It is at the core of the right to human dignity.
ZANU PF’s actions at UZ are a blatant assault on the right to education. They betray the absence of an ideology or inner morality guiding the regime. Shocking bankruptcy.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, government spokesperson, Nick Mangwana, said UZ students should resort to schemes such as payment plans. He tweeted:
<blockquote>
There are students whose domestic situations are such that they may struggle to pay fees.
Universities run different support schemes to assist these students to meet their fees.
Some unis like the UZ have these schemes; 1- Work Study Programmes, 2- Fees Payment Plans and 3- Student Loans.
</blockquote>
On Monday UZ students staged a flash demonstration demanding that authorities reverse the recent tuition fee hike. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/biti-wades-into-uz-tuition-fees-standoff-says-new-rates-are-unjustified-irrational-and-unlawful/">NewZimbabwe</a>

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