Zimbabwe student leaders targeted in crackdown on campus activism
Student leaders across Zimbabwe are decrying a growing campaign of repression by authorities, claiming that universities and colleges are increasingly being used to silence dissent and discourage activism.
More than a dozen student activists have been suspended or expelled in recent weeks, reportedly for inciting protests over issues ranging from campus conditions to broader governance concerns.
The clampdown escalated in the lead-up to the planned March 31 anti-government protests, with sources suggesting that authorities feared a student-led uprising could inspire wider unrest among Zimbabweans dissatisfied with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
One of the suspended students, Darlington Matola, a third-year student at Great Zimbabwe University, was barred from campus for two semesters over allegations that he incited peers through a WhatsApp group. Matola dismissed the charges, insisting his only “crime” was speaking out.
“The regime wants a one-party state and now seeks to politicise our education,” said Matola. “Universities are becoming echo chambers for oppression. We won’t be silenced,” he added.
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) has taken up the matter, with its president Emmanuel Sitima stating that student leaders nationwide are "under siege."
“Our stance as Zinasu has been clear—we are challenging the victimization of students through legal means,” Sitima told The Standard.
Zinasu spokesperson Kumbirai Freddy Ryan Mugayi called for the creation of an independent student commission to handle reports of violations without fear of retaliation.
“The government must understand the art of inclusion. Recognizing student movements means engaging in dialogue, not intimidation. Student activism is simply giving feedback to authorities about the challenges we face. The government must allow these movements to operate freely,” said Mugayi.
Sean Zvarevashe, a former junior parliamentarian and a prospective University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student representative council presidential candidate, described an atmosphere of fear and surveillance on campus.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Movement condemned the ongoing harassment of student activists, stating, “Every student has civil rights. We condemn these unjust tendencies.”
