Nqobizwe Thebe
A Harare magistrate has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to refund admission of guilt fines paid by three University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers, who were arrested in April 2025 for allegedly protesting poor salaries and working conditions. The lecturers, identified as Professor Obvious Vengeyi, Boncase Mwakorera, and Desmond Ndedzu, are also leaders of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) at UZ.
The trio was arrested on April 16, 2025, and charged with disorderly conduct in a public place under section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act. According to a post by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on X, the ZRP accused the lecturers of breaching the country’s laws by picketing alongside other UZ lecturers to demand better remuneration and working conditions. The lecturers were detained overnight at Harare Central Police Station and paid admission of guilt fines of US$15 each on April 17 to secure their release during the Easter holidays.
Represented by lawyers Kelvin Kabaya, Emmanuel Lawrence Chibwe, and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of ZLHR, the lecturers challenged the fines on April 22, 2025. In a letter to the Provincial Magistrate at Harare Magistrates Court, as provided for under section 356 of the Criminal Procedure & Evidence Act, the lawyers argued that the lecturers’ actions were protected under the Labour Act and section 65 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to collective job action.
The ZLHR post stated, “The human rights lawyers argued that they were protecting the trio’s right to collective job action as provided for in section 65 of the Constitution.” The lawyers further contended that the lecturers paid the fines solely to avoid prolonged pre-trial detention and asserted their readiness to defend the trio if criminal charges were pursued.
In response, Harare Resident Magistrate Sheunesu Matova set aside the convictions and ordered the ZRP to refund the fines. Magistrate Matova also directed the District Public Prosecutor to proceed with a full trial, where the lecturers will face charges of disorderly conduct in a public place. “The trade unionists’ actions were protected by the Labor Act and that they only paid the fines to secure their liberty,” the ZLHR post noted, highlighting the basis of the legal challenge.
This ruling marks a significant development in the case, underscoring tensions between labor rights and law enforcement actions in Zimbabwe. The outcome of the ordered trial will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for how similar cases involving trade union activities are handled in the country.
