University bans miniskirts as part of new dress code

Female students at the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU), a church-run institution, have clashed with university authorities about a new dress code that bars them from wearing miniskirts and other clothing that the authorities deem inappropriate.

The decree came into effect early in September and female students have subsequently approached the student leadership at the university to engage university authorities to reverse the new dress code.

As part of the debate about the institution’s ‘right’ to make its own rules, several organisations have added their voices to both condemn and to support the university’s prescribed guidelines.

The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) was established in 2021 by Professor Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti, the founder and president of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward in Faith (ZAOGA FIF) church. He is also the university’s chancellor.

In a notice to students, the office of the registrar said students should select and wear clothing that gives dignity and an expression of “our God-given ability to appreciate beauty, creativity, harmony and good taste”.

“We want to remind all students that: ZEGU encourages students to develop a lasting philosophy of good dressing and grooming, therefore, take care of the following principle ‘tight clothing (eg skin tights, leg-ins) cut-off or miniskirts (anything more than five centimetres above the knees) shorts, slippers, tops that reveal breast cleavages, backouts, crop-tops or stomach-outs, bandeau, see-throughs and other kinds of inappropriate clothing are not allowed on campus (especially classes and church services) and other university-related off-campus functions. Lecturers can bar students from attending lecturers if they are not dressed appropriately,” reads the notice.

Students want focus on ‘decent dressing’

In a statement, ZEGU’s students executive council (SEC) said female students have been complaining about the new rules, in particular the fact that the ban is gender-insensitive.

“It is not disputed that the institution is a Christian institution and, of course, it is expected that the university, in its thrust, is fostering Christian values, but a blanket ban on things like shorts, tights is disproportionate. It would have made sense if the institution had focused on encouraging decent dressing,” the SEC said.

According to the SEC, which described the decree as ‘extremism’, students wanted “something befitting a university in the 21st century”.

“If this [pressure to reconsider] is to fail, then obviously the use of external means such as democratic pressure and-or external tribunals such as the courts would be resorted to,” the SEC added.

Zimbabwean columnist Reason Wafawarova, in an opinion piece carried by online media, said there was nothing wrong with a dress code as universities were “not strip clubs”.

“Every dressing is legal and acceptable in its context. Individuals are free to purchase gym clothes, soccer attire, miniskirts, denims, suits, dresses, pyjamas, overalls, work suits etc. However, it is as inappropriate to attend an interview for any executive job in your pyjamas as it is to attend lectures in a night club or dinner miniskirt,” he wrote.

“As such, I personally see as expected and toward for ZEGU to help clear dressing matters with those students struggling with understanding what to wear at which places. I think it is part of higher learning and must, as such, be appreciated.”

But human rights activists disagree with the approach.

Human rights perspective

In an interview, a leading Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, said when a university is given a charter, it assumes it is an equal opportunities university, admitting students without discrimination.

“Also, these students are adults who, in terms of the constitution, are allowed freedom of movement, freedom of expression and other freedoms.

“What you wear, in a way can be classified as a way of expressing yourself. It’s also a basic human right to wear what you want. I don’t think it’s lawful to prescribe what an adult should wear, particularly at a tertiary institution,” said Muchadehama, who also queried why the dress code is targeted at female students only.

He dismissed claims that ‘inappropriate’ clothing may disturb others on campus. He said that, as a church-run institution, the university must not hide behind the banner of religion to restrict women’s rights.

“It’s a male chauvinistic way of approaching how women should conduct themselves in public. If we follow that, we will end up like Afghanistan where they say women should not drive, should not go to school, and should wear things that cover their faces and legs in public. That is too backward. It should never be allowed in a democratic society,” said Muchadehama.

“Religion has been used over time to oppress people, especially women. Women should be left to wear what they want just as men are left to wear what they want.

“No one is affected if a woman wears what she wants. Where is the survey, where are the statistics, where is the science? Is that scientific? We want things that are scientifically proven; scientifically sound. We don’t want things that are not scientific-based, that are simply thrown in a circular,” he said.

What do women want?

Ekenia Chifamba the founding director of a non-governmental organisation, Shamwari Yemwanasikana, which means ‘girl child’s friend’ in the local Shona language, said there is a need to reach a consensus between the university and the students to maintain Christian values as well as consider the rights of young women and girls.

“To sum up, it is important to note that this should be largely about what women want and what they feel comfortable in,” she added.

Lindiwe Maphosa, the chairperson of the portfolio committee on higher and tertiary education innovation science and technology development, said that, as a church university, ZEGU has a level of autonomy that it enjoys when it comes to parliamentary oversight, but the legislative assembly can be forced to intervene in the matter if petitioned by aggrieved students.

In 2019, Delis Mazambane, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission legal and investigations manager, noted that the constitution promotes freedom of expression but a dress code can be imposed at institutions of higher learning.

“To make life easier for the lecturer, the university needs to have a dress code policy. Of course, the constitution talks about freedom of expression, but institutions are allowed to cascade such provisions to their own needs,” said Mazambane.

She added that the dress code policy could apply when students are attending lectures as well as official functions in their respective institutions.

“During the weekend, the students can then wear whatever they want but, when attending lectures, they need to be guided on how to dress and this makes it easier for lecturers to pinpoint that, according to the university’s policy, you are not dressed appropriately,” said Mazambane.

The gender commission later clarified that having a dress code cannot be a sustainable way of addressing issues of sexual harassment in universities.

“What needs to change are the attitudes of the perpetrators; transformation of gender norms is needed in which men can respect women and their rights, irrespective of what they are wearing,” Virginia Muwanigwa, the commission’s chief executive officer said.