A delegation of University of Zimbabwe students met with the parliamentary committee on education late this week to brief its members on the impact of the continued closure of university residence halls which they charge is intended to quell dissent.
University authorities closed the dormitories in July, saying they had been condemned by Harare municipal health authorities, leaving thousands of students without shelter. Critics called the move as a form of political reprisal against student activists.
Since the closure of the halls, a number of students living in other accommodations have been killed, raped or robbed on their way to and from the university.
Opposition lawmaker Fidelis Mhashu of the Harare satellite city of Chitungwiza told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that his panel will inspect the closed dormitories and speak with university officials before issuing a report.