The Legislative Assembly accepted an offer of land in Mount Pleasant from the City of Salisbury (now Harare) for the construction of the campus in 1948.

[9] Independent of the initiatives of Hodson and the Legislative Assembly, the Central African Council's Commission on Higher Education, led by Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders (after whom another residence is now named), recommended the establishment of a university college to serve the newly established Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, with its first preference being to integrate with the Southern Rhodesian initiative.

In 1955, the British Government formally adopted the institution, establishing the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (UCRN) by Royal Charter.

The college was admitted to the privilege of Special Relation with the University of London the following year, and in 1957 all activities were transferred to the Mount Pleasant campus.

After the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the University College continued as an independent institution of higher education and research, open to all races.

[13] The University of Zimbabwe Act was controversially amended in 1990, giving the government more powers and, according to many faculty, students and observers, attacking academic freedom.

[9] As the 2000s began, the university struggled to meet lecturers' and professors' expectations on salary levels, leading to numerous strikes.

[21] Many donors, including the Government of Sweden, which had previously been a major financer of UZ, cut or cancelled their aid.

[22] As the economic crisis grew in Zimbabwe, UZ began to fail to recruit lecturers and professors to fill vacancies.

[5][6][7][28][29] On 20 November 2017, the University of Zimbabwe students boycotted writing exams citing that the former first lady Grace Mugabe's controversial PhD should be revoked.

The 93 year old leader and then chancellor of the university resigned the following afternoon on 21 November 2017 as head of state and government.

[30] The main campus of the University of Zimbabwe is located in the affluent Mount Pleasant suburb in northern Harare.

The campus spans 299 hectares (740 acres)[31] in the southern part of Mount Pleasant, forming the main portion of a special section of land reserved for educational purposes located between Mount Pleasant Drive, Upper East Road, Churchill Avenue, and Teviotdale Road.

[31] The university's main satellite campus, is located at the Parirenyatwa Hospital in central Harare, houses the College of Health Sciences.

[32] Besides the medical school, additional university properties within Harare include blocks of flats for staff and student housing in The Avenues, Avondale, and Mount Pleasant.

[31] The university operates the Lake Kariba Research Station, located in the Nyamhunga suburb of Kariba, Mashonaland West,[34] as well as the University of Zimbabwe Farm, also known as Thornpark Estate, which lies approximately 8 kilometers away from the Mount Pleasant campus, on Mazowe Road in Teviotdale, Mazowe District, Mashonaland Central.

The Vice-Chancellor is assisted by one or more Pro–Vice-Chancellors, appointed by the University Council with the approval of the Minister of Higher Education Innovation Science and Technology Development.

[1] There are twelve academic faculties: SurgeryAnaestheticCommunity MedicineChemical PathologyClinical PharmacologyHaematologyMedical MicrobilogyObstretics & GynaecologyPhysiologySchool of Pharmacy Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality StudiesGraduate School of Management Computer Engineering Electronics and telecommunications Computer Technology Training Development Educational AdministrationEducational FoundationsScience and Mathematics EducationTeacher EducationTechnical Education Electronics and Telecommunication TechnologyStatisticsGeography and Environmental Science The university used to have one college, the College of Health Sciences which is now called the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

There are numerous education institutions affiliated to the University of Zimbabwe, including teacher training colleges[1] and the School of Social Work.

[24] The university has a target of at least one current or former UZ student representing the country in a medal winning sports team in international competitions annually.

[8] Sports offered at the university include athletics, basketball, cricket, football, field hockey, rugby, and tennis.

[44] Other popular and successful sporting disciplines at UZ are Basketball, Vollyeball, Rugby and Handball whom are all playing in the Harare professional leagues.

Adams was succeeded by Terence Miller, who lasted a mere two years, as his racially progressive views brought him into conflict with the Rhodesian government.

Levi Nyagura, the longest-serving Vice-Chancellor, held the office from 2003 to 2018, when he was suspended on charges that he unprocedurally awarded a doctoral degree to former First Lady Grace Mugabe.

[60] President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed soil scientist professor Paul Mapfumo as acting Vice-Chancellor in August 2018 and substantive in June 2019.