University of Zimbabwe bans kissing in public places...students kick

University students in Zimbabwe have vowed to resist the new rules introduced by the authorities at the University of Zimbabwe, which bans students from kissing in public places or bringing members of the opposite sex to their hostels.

A couple kiss at an eatery

The new code of conduct which bans sex in public places also states that students of opposite sex caught in intimate positions or loitering in dark places outside the sports pavilion or lecture venues would be punished.

President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASSU), Gilbert Mutubuki, told AFP that students would resist the rules introduced two weeks ago

His words: “We are against these rules which we view as archaic, repressive and evil. We are urging students to resist the rules. These rules reduce the university to a primary school. The authorities need to be reminded that this is an institute for adults who are mature.”

Photo credit: BBC

According to him, the rules, which also bar students from accommodating non-resident colleagues, were meant to curb students’ right to associate.

“We believe these are security measures meant to limit students from associating”, he said.

University students in Zimbabwe have often staged anti-government protests sometimes joining forces with trade unions and rights groups. Many believe that the new rules might just be aimed at clipping their wings.