The University of Zimbabwe has officially lifted the suspension of six student activists who were previously barred from campus over a protest held earlier this year. The students — Narshon Kohlo, Blessing Mtisi, Nodesha Maingehama, Tafadzwa Katsande, Tawana Hove, and Tariro Mtukura — are all members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), UZ Chapter.
The students were initially suspended in May 2025 following their involvement in a demonstration demanding urgent action over a prolonged industrial strike by university lecturers, which began on April 16. Their protest highlighted mounting frustrations among the student body over disrupted classes and the broader impact of the lecturers’ strike on academic progress.
In a series of letters dated July 9, 2025, University Registrar Munyaradzi Madambi confirmed that both the suspensions and disciplinary proceedings against the students had been officially lifted. The university stated that it had “reconsidered its position” and expressed hope that the students had reflected on their actions.
“It is sincerely hoped that you have atoned for your behaviour, which seriously threatens the integrity and reputation of the University. We anticipate that you desist from engaging in behaviour that may put the University into disrepute,” Madambi wrote in the letters.
The reinstatement includes a directive to the Manager of Examinations and Certification to reactivate the students’ E-mhare accounts and release their examination results. In addition, other university departments have been instructed to assist in facilitating the students’ full return to academic life.
The decision marks a significant development in a case that has attracted public and media attention, particularly from student rights advocates who argued that peaceful protest should not be punished. ZINASU has long called for reforms that safeguard student voices and promote open dialogue on campus.
While the university has maintained its stance on preserving institutional reputation, the reinstatement signals a possible shift toward reconciliation and academic stability. With classes resuming amid the resolution of the industrial action, the focus now turns to how student activism and administrative policy can coexist in Zimbabwe’s higher education landscape.
