Mawarire broke the law
EDITOR — Evan Mawarire had no right to be at the University of Zimbabwe when medical students were protesting.
Whenever outsiders visit any university’s premises, their intentions are probed and they sign in a visitor’s schedule.
One wonders if Mawarire signed and told the truth that he was there to help the students protest.
UZ has the right of admission, which means that they reserve the right to call law enforcement if someone is within their premises against their approval.
Activists and social media champions will claim persecution among other things, but the truth is, his presence at the University of Zimbabwe was unsanctioned by the authorities, which makes it unlawful.
Academic freedom only applies when the activities were of an academic nature and there are procedures needed for anyone to address students usually through a public lecture.
This does not entail throwing stones, an act which puts the university’s name into disrepute as well as put other students at a disadvantage.
If Mawarire had good intentions he must have known that there is a method to engagement at any university.
It would be irresponsible to allow everyone to enter their premises and address people’s children in the manner Mawarire did.
Student concerns should be solved by students, opportunists who try to gain mileage through genuine concerns should be condemned in the strongest terms.
K Dube, Harare.