Police photograph assault of student leader

By Violet Gonda
14 September 2006

State security agents, together with University of Zimbabwe security officers, are reported to have given Promise Mkwananzi the President of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), a thorough beating before arresting him on Thursday morning. The police officers also took photos during the assault of the activist.

ZINASU coordinator Washington Katema told us Mkwananzi was first taken to the UZ security control room where he was assaulted while other police officers were taking photos of the beatings. “He was subjected to wanton and viscous attacks … they were taking photographs beating him and interrogating him while he was insisting he wanted to see his lawyers.”

The ZINASU president was later taken to Avondale Police Station and is expected to be transferred to Harare Central Police Station, where several pro-democracy activists are being held.

Mkwananzi is believed to have been picked up in connection with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union protests.

Lawyers for the NGO Human Rights Forum were frantically trying to get access to their client.
The student activist has seen the walls of prison cells several times this year. In May, Bindura Police reportedly placed a notice at the station ordering the arrest of the ZINASU president whether ‘dead, alive or decomposing.’ At that time the police said they were looking for Mkwananzi for the alleged crime of inciting students to burn down a building at Bindura University. Students had been demonstrating against crippling fee hikes announced in early February.
Promise Mkwananzi’s Thursday arrest brings to two the number of detained ZINASU officials, after the arrest of Benjamin Nyandoro, a ZINASU Programmes Officer on Wednesday.

Eight other student activists were picked up at Masvingo State University on Wednesday also in connection with the labour demonstrations.

Observers said if anything, Wednesday’s blocked protests exposed the full scale of repression in Zimbabwe. In many cities there were more police officers than civilians on the streets with an estimated 40 000 police officers deployed to monitor people’s movements across the country. Army and air force were placed on standby and the Central Intelligence Organisation was on high alert. The state controlled media also played a role in intimidating workers by publishing threats and false reports about the labour backed protests.

William Bango, MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, said in a way the planned demonstration managed to stretch the regime to the limit and if pushed some more the regime would not be able to cope. He said; “By and large the ZCTU did a commendable job. They managed to bring Zimbabwe to a standstill for those two or three hours… and we know that they (state) got the message.”

Washington Katema also said the way the authorities violently dealt with the demonstrators was a ploy to instil fear in Zimbabweans and to silence the voiceless. He said; “Demonstrations are going ahead. We have nothing to fear. As you know time is on the side of truth and victory belongs to the fearless.”

The student union warned; “The police must be reminded of its duties enforcing the law, rather than pursuing its newly found job description of being security officers of the ruling party, executing the Zanu PF culture of bloodshed and violence.”

The students have said they are going to embark on nationwide protests next week saying; “Education must not be a preserve of the elite; it’s a fundamental right of every citizen by virtue of being human. If the police and the state seek to redefine this globally accepted definition then both its masters and the police itself have virtually become an illegitimate force.”