The Zimbabwe National Students Union has condemned as “archaic and repressive” new rules on male-female relationship on campus introduced by the authorities of the University of Zimbabwe
ZINASSU President Gilbert Mutubuki told newsmen that the new rules would be disobeyed to the letter:
“We are against these rules which we view as archaic, repressive and evil. We are urging students to resist the rules. These rules reduce the university to a primary school. The authorities need to be reminded that this is an institute for adults who are mature.”
UniZimb students woke up one morning two weeks ago to find a circular from the authorities threatening fire and brimstone on students “caught in any intimate position such as kissing or having sex in public places”.
The circular, displayed in the halls of residence, also barred resident students from bringing members of the opposite sex to their hostels and “loitering in dark places outside the sports pavilion or lecture venues.”
Mutubuki said the new sexual code of conduct, which also barred students from “accommodating non-resident colleagues”, were meant to curtail students’ right to associate, stressing: “We believe these are security measures meant to limit students from associating.”
Until Zimbabwe introduced tough security laws, university students often staged anti-government protests sometimes joining forces with trade unions and rights groups.