UZ Lecturers Challenge Police Over Protest Interference

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Lecturers from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) have filed a High Court application seeking an order to prevent the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) from disrupting their protests over salary grievances.

The lecturers are demanding an increase from their current pay of US$250 to US$2,500 per month, citing the need for fair remuneration.

The dispute involves the university administration and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, and tensions escalated last Wednesday when three lecturers were arrested during a protest on campus. They were released the following day after paying fines of US$15.

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The Association of University Teachers (AUT), representing the lecturers, argued in its court application that both Police Commissioner Stephen Mutamba and UZ officials violated the lecturers’ lawful rights to peaceful picketing during collective job actions. “The applicant and its members stand to suffer irreparable harm if the 1st respondent and 3rd respondents are left to continue to disregard the lawful rights of the applicant and its members,” the application reads in part.

Legal representation for the AUT is being provided by Matika, Gwisai and Partners, with the case scheduled for hearing on 19 April 2025. The move marks a critical step in the lecturers’ fight for better wages and improved working conditions.

The lecturers argue that their demands are not only justified but vital for the retention of academic professionals and the sustenance of higher education standards in Zimbabwe. The outcome of the case is expected to have broader implications for collective bargaining rights across the education sector.

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