The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) will go ahead with its 44th graduation ceremony tomorrow, following a High Court decision to dismiss an urgent application brought by the Association of University Teachers (AUT) seeking to stop the event.
High Court Judge President Mary Zimba-Dube delivered her ruling late today, clearing the way for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to preside over the ceremony as scheduled. The case, which had been lodged on an urgent basis earlier in the week, was heard around midday before proceedings were deferred to the evening for judgment.
In her ruling, Zimba-Dube found that the matter was now moot — a legal term meaning that there was no longer a live dispute requiring judicial intervention. In law, a case is considered moot when changes in circumstances render a court’s decision incapable of having any practical effect on the parties involved.
“The court cannot make a determination where the issues before it have ceased to exist in a form capable of judicial resolution,” she said in her judgment. The effect of this finding was that the court did not engage in a detailed examination of the merits of AUT’s allegations.
The AUT had argued that the graduation ceremony should be halted in light of what it described as “serious breaches of academic integrity” at the institution. In its urgent chamber application, the lecturers’ association accused the university of hiring unqualified part-time lecturers, employing sub-standard teaching methods, and failing to adhere to proper procedures for examination moderation and dissertation supervision.
The association alleged that the cumulative effect of these irregularities had undermined academic standards, casting doubt on the credibility of degrees, diplomas, and certificates set to be conferred.
In addition, the AUT raised concerns about the broader state of the university’s academic environment, pointing to a crippling lecturers’ strike that began on April 16 this year. Permanent and professional academic staff have been on industrial action over what they describe as poor working conditions and unacceptably low salaries, leaving much of the teaching workload to temporary staff. According to the association, this disruption has had a direct impact on the quality of teaching and assessment, making it inappropriate to proceed with awarding qualifications under the current circumstances.
The association’s legal counsel argued that allowing the graduation to go ahead would be “rubber-stamping mediocrity” and could harm the university’s national and international standing. They further claimed that some students set to graduate had been taught and assessed in ways that fell short of the institution’s own academic policies.
High Court Dismisses Bid to Block UZ Graduation Ceremony
Despite these submissions, the court did not consider the substance of the allegations in detail, focusing instead on the procedural status of the matter. Judge President Zimba-Dube concluded that the relief sought by the AUT could no longer be granted in a way that would have practical significance.
With the dismissal of the application, preparations for tomorrow’s event are now proceeding unhindered. The UZ graduation ceremony is traditionally one of the largest gatherings on the institution’s calendar, drawing thousands of graduands, family members, faculty, and dignitaries from across the country. President Mnangagwa, in his capacity as Chancellor of all state universities, is expected to confer degrees, diplomas, and certificates on successful candidates from various faculties.
The university administration has not publicly commented in detail on the AUT’s allegations but has previously defended its academic processes, insisting that all graduates meet the required standards. Officials have also expressed disappointment at the ongoing lecturers’ strike, while urging dialogue to resolve outstanding disputes.
Meanwhile, reaction to the court’s decision has been mixed. Supporters of the ruling say it allows the university to preserve an important tradition and celebrate the achievements of students who have endured difficult learning conditions in recent years. Critics, however, argue that the judgment sidesteps serious questions about quality assurance and governance in Zimbabwe’s higher education sector.
Education analysts note that the case reflects broader tensions between academic staff, university administrators, and government authorities over funding, autonomy, and standards. Some see the AUT’s failed bid as a warning shot — an indication that discontent within the academic community is reaching critical levels, even if it does not always find relief through the courts.
For now, the spotlight shifts back to the UZ campus, where the final touches are being made for the graduation ceremony. Security is expected to be tight, with high-level government officials, foreign diplomats, and the media in attendance. Despite the controversy, the day will mark a milestone for thousands of students whose studies have been shaped by economic challenges, industrial action, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether the disputes highlighted by the AUT will lead to substantive reforms at the university remains to be seen. What is clear is that, at least for tomorrow, the focus will be on caps, gowns, and the ceremonial awarding of degrees — not the courtroom battles that almost derailed the occasion.
Source- Bulawayo24
