No minis, tight-fitting clothes at Bulawayo Poly

Zim Now Writer

The Bulawayo Polytechnic has published a controversial new dress code targeting mainly female students who put on skimpy or revealing clothes.

Students will not be allowed into class if they put on tight-fitting clothes or reveal cleavage, according to a memo from the institution’s authorities.

“The institution’s mandate is to train and groom professionals for commerce and industry…,” a November 15 memo signed the institution’s principal, Chiedza Masanganise, reads in part.

It continues to say “inappropriately dressed” students will not be allowed access to the institution’s facilities and lectures.

The new regime of regulations bans skirts or short dresses; string tops or dresses; biker and bum shorts; clothing that reveals cleavage; does not cover the shoulders and stomach; is short, tight-fitting, ripped, sleeveless or see-throughs.

Head gear is not allowed for male students, save those worn on religious grounds.

The college has also banned “dropping of trousers” or shorts, and slippers.

The Bulawayo Polytechnic’s students’ representative council said: “We are never in support of anything that is against the freedom of the students.”

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission legal and investigations department in 2019 said while the country’s Constitution promotes various freedoms, a dress code can be imposed at institutions of higher learning, arguing that female students, in particular, could prevent unwanted attention and sexual harassment by lecturers if they avoided wearing “revealing” clothes.