18 students arrested in Harare and Masvingo after more demonstrations

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 November 2006

There were student demonstrations in Harare and Masvingo on Tuesday and Wednesday after which police arrested a total of 18 students who are currently in custody. The protests started Tuesday at the University of Zimbabwe campus where lecturers and non-academic staff are on strike.

Washington Katema, coordinator for the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), said students at the UZ marched with placards supporting the striking staff and denouncing unaffordable university fees and bungled exam papers. Police then arrested two students Wednesday morning. Katema said Clifford Hlatswayo, vice chairman of the student executive council, and Lovemore Mutangi vice chairman of the representative assembly, are being held at Avondale police station. Katema who visited them Wednesday morning said they were allowed food from outside and had access to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

In Masvingo students from all colleges in the province participated in a similar demonstration on Wednesday. Katema said they took to the streets of Masvingo city centre where they marched peacefully until they were disrupted by the police. 16 students were taken into custody. Katema said the president of ZINASU Promise Mkwananzi and Secretary General Beloved Chiweshe, were both in Masvingo with the protestors. It is not known whether they were among those arrested.