By Rudo Saungweme

University of Zimbabwe (UZ) which is one of the leading institutes of higher and tertiary education in Zimbabwe is taking a break to mourn the founder and former President of Zimbabwe, Cde Robert Mugabe.

In a statement today, UZ said it was joining the nation in mourning the passing of the former Head of State.

“The University of Zimbabwe wishes to inform all UZ students that the University shall be in recess from, Thursday 12 September to Sunday 15 September 2019, as we join the nation in mourning the passing on of former Head of State and Government, Cde R.G. Mugabe,” read the statement.

UZ was formed in 1957 by the Rhodesian Government. The nation`s independency through the efforts of Cde Mugabe expanded the University of Zimbabwe`s enrolment from 2 240 to 9 017 by 1990.

Former President Mugabe in 1980 declared that education is a basic human right. He made it clear that education is afforded by all by recognizing primary and secondary public education as free and compulsory.

One of the Millennium Development Goals was to achieve universal education for all students.

The New Dispensation is currently working towards the Sustainable Development Goal of providing universal and free education to all students by 2030.