By Costa Nkomo
Nicole Chabata’s release from Chikurubi Maximum Prison after 90 days of detention initially brought relief. However, that relief quickly faded. The state, which had opposed Nicole’s bail for the full 90 days, eventually conceded that she was a Form 4 student, but by then, it was too late.
Although Nicole, an 18-year-old student at Christhood Academy in Epworth, was granted bail and could return to her studies to prepare for her O’level exams, she received the devastating news that she would no longer be allowed to sit for the exams this year.
“It’s devastating,” Nicole shared. “It means I have to wait until next year to write my exams.”
Nicole was among 79 CCC activists arrested on June 16, 2024, while commemorating the Day of the African Child at the home of former Minister Jameson Timba.
She had been registered for eight subjects at Christhood Academy.
Nicole’s lawyers are working with both the school and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, pushing for a solution that would allow her to sit for the exams this year or, at the very least, ensure her eight subjects carry over to next year without requiring her to pay additional fees.
While her legal team continues to fight for her educational rights, Nicole also remains entangled in the legal proceedings of her trial. She frequently appears at the Harare Magistrate Court, where the trial for her and her co-accused has begun— a stark reminder of her ordeal.
Jeremiah Bhamu, Nicole’s lawyer from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), outlined the difficulties:
“We’ve been informed that she can’t write her exams this year because her class has already completed key components, like the Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA). We are still in talks with the school to explore options for her to sit for the exams, as she is now available.”
Nicole’s case exposes a troubling trend in Zimbabwe: the impact of activism on young people’s right to education. Her situation sheds light on the country’s broader erosion of fundamental human rights.
Despite Section 75 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution guaranteeing the right to education, Nicole’s has been denied. She missed critical lessons from mid-June onwards. Her story serves as a sobering reminder of the personal cost of activism in Zimbabwe, particularly for young people striving to exercise their constitutional rights.
