Students arrested at Harare Polytechnic

By Violet Gonda
13 February 2007

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have confirmed that at least 35 students were arrested at the Harare Polytechnic on Tuesday. The arrested include President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union, Promise Mkwananzi. Student activists from colleges around the country were holding a general meeting at the Harare Poly to discuss the educational crisis, when armed police officers stormed the institution.

Human Rights lawyer Rangu Nyamurundira said they were being held at Harare Central Police Station. Although the lawyer was not allowed to speak with the arrested students he said; “What we are aware of, or the information we got is, that the students were arrested while one of them, a ZINASU representative, was about to deliver a speech to the students. So as far as we are aware there was no actual demonstration taking place.”

He said the gathering was not illegal and the students’ body has a right to speak to their members to voice whatever concerns the students have. “It is obviously a violation of their freedom of expression and association.”

According to an unconfirmed report from the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, some lecturers were also arrested.

Earlier this month the ZINASU leadership gave the government an ultimatum which expired today, calling upon the state to address the education crisis, as tuition fees have gone beyond the reach of the general population.

Zimbabwe is seeing a wave of strikes and demonstrations as more and more people fail to make ends meet due to the hyperinflationary environment.