CUT Students Ordered Out of Varsity Heights for ZANU PF Conference
By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Chinhoyi
Hundreds of Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) students living at Varsity Heights have been ordered to vacate their accommodation to make way for delegates attending the 23rd ZANU PF National People’s Conference.
Varsity Heights, an off-campus student residence commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in October 2024, is owned by First Mutual Wealth Property Fund and managed by Rehoboth Realtors. According to a notice issued by the property manager, students must leave the complex by October 12, with the facility expected to accommodate conference delegates during the university’s scheduled semester break.
“Please be advised that CUT has scheduled a semester break from 8 to 19 October 2026. During this period the facility will be used to accommodate the upcoming ZANU PF conference,” the notice says. “As part of preparations, all students will be required to vacate the facility by 12 October 2026.” The notice states that the property will remain occupied until October 18.
Students have also been instructed to leave their rooms clean and remove all personal belongings before departing. Those unable to transport their luggage home will reportedly be provided with temporary secure storage at the complex, although details of the arrangement are yet to be announced. The directive has generated concern among some students, particularly those who live far from Chinhoyi and say travelling home for a short period could impose additional transport and accommodation costs.
Some students are also questioning the basis for relocating them from their regular accommodation to accommodate delegates attending a political party conference. For students who cannot afford to travel home, the directive could mean having to find alternative accommodation in Chinhoyi until the conference-related occupation ends. The accommodation arrangement comes as Chinhoyi prepares to host the ruling ZANU PF's annual conference, bringing delegates from across Zimbabwe to the city.
The conference is expected to draw significant numbers of party officials and delegates, increasing demand for accommodation and other services in the city. However, the Varsity Heights arrangement has raised questions about how the temporary use of student accommodation was reached and whether affected students will receive any assistance with alternative accommodation or travel costs. Neither First Mutual Wealth Property Fund nor Rehoboth Realtors had, at the time of publication, publicly explained the terms under which the student residence would be used for the conference or whether students would receive compensation for the disruption.
CUT was also not quoted in the notice explaining the arrangement. The students are expected to return after the conference-related occupation, with the university's semester break running until October 19. For affected students, however, the immediate issue is where they will stay between vacating Varsity Heights and returning to their accommodation. The development has placed student accommodation, institutional arrangements and the hosting of a major political gathering at the centre of a growing discussion in Chinhoyi.
CUT students Varsity Heights
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