Chaos as riot police try to force university students into class

By Lance Guma
08 March 2007

Chaos reigned at the University of Zimbabwe Thursday after riot police tried to force students participating in a class boycott to attend lessons. Promise Mkwananzi who leads the National Students Union (ZINASU) says students were milling around the Bond Shopping Centre in Mount Pleasant close to their campus when riot squads descended on them and tried to frogmarch them to their lecture halls. Police allegedly beat up everyone in sight, resulting in injuries to over 50 students. ZINASU has vowed to press on with the national boycotts until exorbitant tuition fee increases are reversed or student grants are increased to help them pay the fees.

In Masvingo students who had initially not taken part in the boycotts owing to what ZINSAU says was a communication breakdown, joined in the action on Thursday. Mkwananzi says students left classes in response to a call by the student leadership. A nationwide strike by lecturers demanding increased salaries has also given the boycott added momentum. In Bulawayo the President of the United College of Education student’s representative council, Cosmas Gwature is still missing after last being seen in a police truck.

Over 20 students were arrested on Tuesday in Bulawayo according to ZINASU and 16 of these were released the following day Wednesday. Another 4 were released later in the evening the same day. No charges were levelled against the students and their release followed frantic pressure from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. Gwature’s whereabouts have worried the union who say police are refusing to co-operate in locating him. Officers have said he is over 18 years and cannot be regarded as a minor. This means he can only be classified as missing after 7 days. The students maintain the police know where he is.

A general meeting by students at the National University of Science and Technology was disrupted Wednesday. Although no arrests were reported, police officers allegedly beat up students indiscriminately using baton sticks and firing teargas canisters. ZINASU has meanwhile dismissed an offer by government to offer financial support to ‘deserving’ students. The union says authorities want to use the facility as a political tool to discriminate against those that did not support the ruling party.