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University
of Zimbabwe ordered to provide male student's their right
to accomodation
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
February 16, 2007
On Sunday 4 February 2007, the University of Zimbabwe published
a notice in the Sunday Mail newspaper, headlined "Important
Notice For Students". The Notice stated that as a result
of policy changes, all students whose categories are listed below
no longer have campus accommodation for the coming semester (of
2007). These categories included:
- Students
who were residing in Complex 1, 2 and 3, (namely male students)
- Local students
who were residing in New Hall
Only female
students who needed accommodation were allowed to apply for the
same. The effect of this notice was that all male students who had
been residing in above named halls of residence no longer had accommodation
for the second semester starting on the 26th of February
2007.
Zimbabwe Lawyers
for Human Rights (ZLHR) is concerned about the "policy changes"
by the University of Zimbabwe, which changes effectively discriminated
against male students who constitute 67% percent of the student
population by denying them any accommodation. Such discrimination
was/is in clear violation of section 23 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,
section 5 of the University of Zimbabwe Act Chapter 25:16, Article
2 of the African Charter on Human & People’s Rights and Article
2 (2) of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural
Rights.
ZLHR IS PLEASED
TO NOTE THAT: on 14th February 2007, in the High Court
of Zimbabwe case of Jeremiah Bamu & Others v University of Zimbabwe
& Others No. 596/07, it was order by the Honourable Court that:
- The University
of Zimbabwe be and is hereby directed forthwith
to receive applications from all male students for accommodation
in the following halls of residence which have been reserved
exclusively for male students" - Montrose; Georgette;
Manfred Hodson Hall; New Hall; New Complex 1; New Complex 5; Teachers’
Hostel; Mount Royal Residence and Parirenyatwa Medical School
Residence.
- The University
of Zimbabwe be and is hereby directed to consider all applicants
for accommodation in a fair and transparent manner.
The effect of
this order is that male students seeking accommodation may immediately
proceed to apply for accommodation in the Halls of Residence specifically
reserved for them. Should the University of Zimbabwe fail to accept
applications from male students or not reserve the above stated
Halls of residence for male students it shall be in contempt of
court.
Visit the ZLHR
fact
sheet
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