The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) elected a female Students Representative Council (SRC) president for the first time in 2019 since the establishment of the higher learning institution in 1952.

The new president, Abiona Mataranyika is a member of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU).

Takudzwa Ngadziore, the former Great Zimbabwe University SRC president posted on Twitter updating on the results of the elections.

He said:

After (67) Years of existence, the University of Zimbabwe elected its first Female SRC President backed by the Zimbabwe National Students Union @Zinasuzim Meet @abionamatt2 Leadership par excellence! She has defied history in many ways, while leading the #ZINASUlives #AhoyUnion

The University of Zimbabwe was opened in 1952 as the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and was initially affiliated with the University of London.

It was later renamed the University of Rhodesia and adopted its present name upon Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.

Student activism in the country has been mainly male-dominated and this mirrors the political culture at the national level.

Female politicians have often found it difficult to break into and retain positions of influence in politics and governance issues despite efforts to transform Zimbabwe from being a patriarchal society.