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The Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ) notes with great shock and concern the abrupt and ill timed de facto closure of the University of Zimbabwe barely a week before examinations were set to begin. Today the UZ vice chancellor Prof. Levy Nyagura unilaterally issued an eviction order, at around 1400hrs, to all resident students to vacate the university premises by no later than 1500hrs. This effectively means that more than 4500 resident students have been left stranded without any alternative place to stay in Harare overnight. This is because more than 75% of them come from poor peasantry background outside Harare from places like Binga which is more than 1000km from Harare. It is also established that students were forced out of lecture rooms and from the library. The heavily riot police and the army have been summoned to implement these forced evictions thereby ensuring a literal closure of the University.

This directive came in the wake of student protests against being denied food for failing to pay arbitrary and abrupt top up fees of $1million. The top up fees were announced last week, leading the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) to file an urgent Chamber Application at the High Court challenging the top up fees. The basis of the challenge is that it is the University which reneged on its part of the bargain by unilaterally extending the semester following protracted industrial action by the university staff. In addition, most students have no means within which to pay the top up fees given the paltry salaries being given their parents and guardians, some of whom earn as little as $89 000. The High Court still has to make a determination on whether the top ups are justified or not. These developments obviously pre-empt the court's findings and will render whatever court ruling insignificant which undermines the independence of the judiciary. What is more disturbing is that most students neither have funds nor means to go back to their homes having been given barely sufficient time to source funds from their homes for such purposes.

The developments at the University of Zimbabwe are just a symptom of a larger national crisis. Their academic futures hang in the balance. Regrettably, the University Administration has used a sledge hammer to crack a nut. In simpler terms, it has used the axe to kill a mosquito on the university's neck. Helpless Students have been placed in a vulnerable situation. The majority, who have no alternative accommodation in Harare will be forced to sleep in the open tonight . . . at the height of winter a situation reminiscent of shameful and devilish 'Operation Murambatsvina'. This immediately places them in numerous dangers including poverty, starvation, HIV&AIDS, rape, sexual and/or psychological abuse and greater health hazards.

SCMZ calls upon all stakeholders to join hands and assist the needy students who have been made more vulnerable by these developments. It is our firm belief that pure religion, undefiled before God is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1 vs 27). We call upon the University of Zimbabwe to refrain from attacking the right of students and further calls upon the University to respect the minimum core obligations of the right to quality and affordable education.

"How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and needy . . . " Psalms 82 vs. 2-3

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