High Court judge Gladys Mhuri has ordered authorities at Harare Polytecchnic College to stop demanding payment of tuition and other levies exclusively in United States dollars.

Justice Mhuri ordered the college to accept payments due from students in RTGS at the prevailing interbank rate

The order follows a court challenge by students, through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who argued that the mode of payment was both discriminatory and a violation of the country’s exchange control regulations.

 The application, filed on January 25 this year was in response to a circular issued on  January 12, 2024 ordering students to pay tuition, catering  and accommodation fees exclusively in United States dollars. To facilitate payments, the college only provided a United States dollar-denominated account, leaving no room for payments in the local unit.