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THE University of Zimbabwe students got a sigh of relief after the High Court set aside the fees increased by the institution for undergraduate and post graduate studies.
High Court Judge, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, has ordered that the fees increase, effected by the University of Zimbabwe, be set aside.
The Judge further ordered the institution to pay the costs of the application incurred during the process.
“The first respondent (UZ Vice Chancellor Paul Mapfumo) was quite expected to be guided by the University Act which is clear on what powers he has as well as the powers of the Council and Senate.
“It was quite astonishing that even the issue of payment of the increased fees was reduced to a tuck shop operation where discounts were given to students depending on the percentage of the total fees due if paid by a given date,” said the Judge.
In a notice dated September 1, 2022, the institution stated that those who were to pay 100 percent of their fees by the 31st of October 2022 were to enjoy a 12.5 percent discount.
“Those who pay 75 percent of their fees by 31 of October will enjoy a 10 percent discount while those that pay 50 percent will enjoy a 5 percent discount,” read the notice.
The Judge, however, said the Vice Chancellor and the institution should revisit the issue of fees revision.
“It is still open to the first and second respondents to revisit the issue of fees revision and act in terms of the law,” said Judge Chitapi.
Sometime in September last year, the students filed an urgent chamber application seeking an order reversing the staggering 700 percent fees hike.
The fees structure required undergraduate students to pay $500 000 while Masters students were required to pay a million for each semester.
The students were represented by the institution’s Students Representative Council — Narshon Kohlo, Paidamoyo Mafusire and Ethel Museswa.
In their application the students said the raising of fees by the institution was unreasonable and irrational since the government had allocated $3.3 billion in the National Budget approved by the Parliament.
The students submitted to the court that they could not afford the fees since most of them come from poor backgrounds.
Online Reporter