HARARE – The Association of University Teachers (AUT) in Zimbabwe has levelled serious allegations against the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) administration, accusing it of gross violations of academic and administrative regulations, including the fraudulent awarding of marks.

In a public statement issued on Saturday, the AUT revealed that its members have been on a lawful and constitutional strike for 110 days, since April 16, 2025. The strike, they said, was prompted by the administration’s refusal to engage in dialogue over mounting concerns surrounding governance and academic integrity.

At the center of the controversy is Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo, whom the AUT accuses of overseeing an administration that has breached General University Regulations and various faculty and departmental statutes. The union says attempts to engage the university in discussions were repeatedly ignored.

“Despite our open-door policy during the strike and consistent calls for engagement, the administration chose instead to suspend and ultimately dismiss AUT executive members for conducting a ballot in a university hall without prior written permission,” reads the statement.

The AUT alleges that the university has now begun preparing to publish fraudulent academic results over the weekend of August 2–3, in advance of a scheduled graduation ceremony on August 22.

The union says it delivered a detailed 45-page dossier and a seven-page cover letter to the university leadership on July 30, outlining the alleged breaches. The Vice Chancellor was given 48 hours to respond, but, according to the AUT, has remained silent.

“We have made every effort to prevent the University of Zimbabwe administration from engaging in academic fraud that will undoubtedly tarnish the reputation of not only the university but the nation as a whole,” said the union in its strongly worded statement.

The AUT says it will publish its correspondence with the university leadership, along with internal memos from the administration, to ensure transparency and accountability.

The University of Zimbabwe has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations.