Lawyers denied access to detained students despite pleas

By Lance Guma
14 May 2007

Lawyers representing two University of Zimbabwe student leaders arrested last week Thursday were barred access to their clients on Monday. Beatrice Mtetwa who herself was assaulted by police last week and Harrison Nkomo were given the run around by police at Harare Central. They were told the investigating officer was not there, could not access documents relating to the case, were not told what the charges are and above all could not see the students. One of the students, Munyaradzi Chikorohondo, is said to be bleeding profusely from the ear and Prosper Munatsi has a swollen arm, which might be broken. The two are said to require urgent medical attention.

It had been expected the students would be taken to court Monday but it’s alleged that deliberate attempts are being made to prolong their detention outside the legal 48 hours. By mid-afternoon the lawyers had filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court seeking the release of the students. Harrison Nkomo told Newsreel that the hearing will be in front of Justice Chatukuta on Tuesday at 12pm. They are seeking an order declaring that the continued detention of the students outside the prescribed 48 hours is illegal and that the students should be brought to court if the state has a case against them.

Dhewa Mavhinga, an activist working with a local NGO, was at Harare Central also trying to secure the release of his relative who was caught up in the disturbances at the university. He says the police completely refused to co-operate and is worried that even if the High Court ordered their release, the police are likely to ignore the order as they have been doing in past weeks.

The University resembled a war zone Thursday as students clashed with riot police following the disruption of a campaign gala that normally precedes student council elections. Speaking to Newsreel on Friday Benjamin Nyandoro, a Programmes Officer with the Zimbabwe National Students Union, said UZ security guards started assaulting students without provocation and when they responded riot police descended on the campus firing tear gas and beating up students. Several first year students were arrested before being released. Chikorohondo and Munatsi were arrested, while the whereabouts of another student leader Blessing Vava are still unknown.