MDC-T Youth President to fight UZ ban in court

MDC-T Youth Assembly President Solomon Madzore has engaged the services of lawyers to fight the University of Zimbabwe's ban that is stopping him resuming his undergraduate studies.

The youth leader is being prevented from going back to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in social work, after spending a year in remand prison at Chikurubi. The UZ authorities argue that Madzore has a pending criminal case.

Madzore and 30 other MDC-T activists are facing charges of murdering police inspector Petros Mutedza, in Harare's Glen View suburb in 2011. They all deny the charges.

Last week Madzore said he received a one-paragraph reply to his application to resume his studies at the UZ. The deputy registrar for academic studies wrote: "I regret to inform you that your application for resumption of studies was unsuccessful."

A furious Madzore said the UZ's actions were tantamount to an extension of persecution led by the former ruling Zanu-PF party. He said he's since engaged lawyers to fight the ban.

'Convicted criminals are allowed to study in prison; even Robert Mugabe did many of his degrees inside Chikurubi prison. Why is my case any different from the many others?' asked Madzore.