Arrested student leaders and WOZA activists still in detention

By Tererai Karimakwenda
08 February 2007

20 students out of a total of 35 who were arrested at the Harare Polytechnic on Tuesday remain in police custody and according to one student activist they have still not been charged. We spoke to Simbarashe Moyo of The Student Solidarity Trust as he waited for more information at Harare Central Station. He said 15 students were released Tuesday without charge but they claimed they were assaulted by police while in custody.

The group of 20 still in detention includes president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union Promise Mkwananzi and 3 female activists. Moyo said as of Wednesday afternoon lawyers were negotiating with police who had not yet preferred any charges. Student activists were allowed to deliver food from outside on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, activist members of the Women of Zimbabwe Arise and Men of Zimbabwe Arise who were arrested after taking part in surprise demonstrations in Harare and Bulawayo on Tuesday are also still in detention. Lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights say they have been denied access to their clients by the police. They believe there are 83 members spread out at different police stations in Bulawayo and about 8 in Harare. The group had held their annual Valentine’s Day march a day early to surprise police. They were handing out copies of their People’s Charter as well.

According to WOZA press statements, a woman suffering from HIV was denied food brought in by supporters in Bulawayo. Another woman is believed to have been assaulted by police, breaking one of her teeth. Rangu Nyamurundira, the lawyer representing the arrested activists in Harare said the police had not yet charged the activists and he was waiting to gain access.

The student arrests took place Tuesday as students from colleges around the country were holding a general meeting at Harare Poly. ZINASU prez Mkwananzi was due to address the students. Moyo explained that nothing illegal was going on. He said Mkwananzi was about to talk about the crucial issues regarding fees, accommodation and catering. Armed riot police stormed the meeting and violently dispersed the students. The students had earlier this month set a deadline of February 13 for government to address their needs.

The arrests came on the day this time expired. The Crisis Coalition released a statement which said tuition fees for 2007 stand as follows – Polytechnics $180 000, Public Universities (Z$750 000) and Teachers’ Colleges (Z$350 000). These fees are way out of reach for most Zimbabweans earning much less than the current Poverty Datum Line of Z$585 000.