Nearly half the University of Zimbabwe students who recently underwent voluntary HIV testing were positive.the reports shows that 47% of the total student population are HIV positive which is a shocking figure.Confirming the results, Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura said that statistics of sexually transmitted diseases at the institution have forced us to have a limit for inter-residence visits between female and male students.
“The grim statistics of sexually transmitted diseases at the institution have forced us to have a limit for inter-residence visits between female and male students.
“We have consulted lots of parents and all of them do not want to promote promiscuity by allowing students to enjoy married lifestyles by staying with their girlfriends in the halls of residence.
“You may be interested to know that not so long ago, we had a survey here which revealed that 47 percent of students who went for voluntary HIV testing were found to be positive.
“As a parent, that’s a worrisome stat. At some stage I was surprised that Swinton Hall had almost become like a maternity wing with hordes of students pregnant. While we acknowledge that this is an adult institution, we don’t think it’s good for us to encourage cohabitation of male and female students.”
Apart from that Prof Nyagura, who took over the vice chancellorship in 2003 at the varsity, has been credited for bringing peace and order at the institution which had been covered by numerous demonstrations by students and refusal by employees to perform work by staff members.