St Christopher’s High School has barred two of its former Ordinary Level students from proceeding to Advanced Level at the school for allegedly plotting to commit murder and rape.
The pair, whose identity is being protected and only referred to as “R” and “C”, were overheard planning “to kill a lady or girl and rape her body afterwards”.
As a result, the school took the decision not to enrol them for ‘A’ Level. They then approached the High Court challenging the school’s decision. Reads the court papers:
<blockquote>
Around October 21, 2021, a certain conversation between R and C and two other pupils is alleged to have come to light at St Christopher’s School.
These two and two others are alleged to have been heard by other students openly talking about their desire or intention to shoot a lady or girl and rape her body afterwards.
</blockquote>
In their court application, the pupils cited the school Headmistress Louise Morrisby, and her deputy Carl Lapham, the school, the trustees and the board of governors as respondents.
They argued that they were unlawfully barred from continuing with schooling.
The former pupils sought to have the decision set aside, arguing they were never informed of any specific charges in the school’s schedule of offences and that there was never any disciplinary hearing.
They also argued that the school head and other respondents were conflicted in the whole disciplinary process.
After they completed their Form 4, the two students did not return to school.
However, they continued to communicate with school authorities through their lawyers but they were rejected.
Later, the school offered conditions to be met by the two if they were to return.
The school asked the students to submit a verbal apology to the school and undergo off-campus counselling with attendant reports to the school, and a final warning letter on file.
They rejected all the conditions and approached the courts instead.
However, their court application has been dismissed with costs by High court Judge, Justice Joseph Mafusire. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/school-blacklists-two-aspiring-a-level-students-for-allegedly-plotting-murder-and-rape/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

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School Blacklists Two Form 4 Pupils Over Plot To Commit Murder And Rape

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

Sixteen (16) University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students who were arrested on Monday in connection with demonstrations against tuition fee hikes have all been released.
UZ recently increased undergraduate fees to between ZWL$300 000 and ZWL$500 000, up from ZWL$50 000, while some Master’s degree programme tuition fees were increased to close to ZWL$1 million.
The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) leader, Allan Chipoyi said the 16 students were all released. He said:
<blockquote>
Since Monday, police have been looking for the organisers of the demonstration that happened and they arrested 16 students who have so far been freed.
</blockquote>
Two of the students, Thelma Nzero (19) and Tinotenda Mwenje (21) appeared before Harare Magistrate, Taurai Manuwere and were remanded out of custody to 29 September.
The two, who were among 14 suspects that were detained at Avondale Police Station, were released on free bail Wednesday.
Their alleged accomplices were released on Tuesday after paying ZWL$2 000 admission of guilty fines at the police station for disorderly conduct.
Meanwhile, police arrested five more UZ students on Wednesday as they continued their search for the organisers of the Monday protests at the Mt Pleasant Campus. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/5-more-uz-students-arrested-over-feesmustfall-protest/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

UZ Students Who Were Arrested Over #FeesMustFall Protest Released

Police arrested five more University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students on Wednesday in connection with demonstrations against tuition fee hikes that took place on Monday at the Mt Pleasant campus.
The five are Tinovimba Musengi, Hazel Gwande, Purpose Mangana, Tanyaradzwa Nzvimbo and Charles Moyo.
They were detained at Avondale Police Station pending their court appearance.
On Monday, 16 students were arrested for allegedly participating in the demonstration.
The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) leader, Allan Chipoyi told NewZimbabwe.com that the 16 have since been freed. Said Chipoyi:
<blockquote>
Since Monday, police have been looking for the organisers of the demonstration that happened and they arrested 16 students who have so far been freed.
Today some students were trying to stop others from attending classes as they had agreed that they are staying home, and no one must attend lectures until the issue has been addressed.
The police and UZ security started chasing away students and that is when the five students got arrested.
It is unfair as no one knows if they were part of those who were trying to stop others or not.
</blockquote>
UZ recently increased undergraduate fees to between Z$300 000 and Z$500 000, up from Z$50 000, while some Master’s degree programme tuition fees were increased to close to Z$1 million.
Chipoyi called for dialogue between students and the university administration on the way forward. He said:
<blockquote>
The administration must understand that our parents are peasants and they do not afford such huge amounts of fees.
We need dialogue with the administration on the way forward so we can agree on a more reasonable amount.
</blockquote>

Five More UZ Students Arrested Over Demonstration

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>

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