Ten student leaders arrested in Bulawayo

By Lance Guma
17 January 2007

Ten student leaders drawn from universities and colleges around Zimbabwe were arrested Wednesday while addressing a meeting in Bulawayo at the United College of Education (UCE). Those arrested include Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) President, Promise Mkwananzi who prior to this had been in hiding after being made the subject of a police manhunt last year in November. He had attracted police attention by addressing meetings around the country calling for student demonstrations. According to Lawrence Mashungu, the Chairman of the Students Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ), all ten arrested were taken to Mzilikazi police station.

Gladys Mukubvu, Blessing Vava (Bulawayo Polytechnic), Zwelithini Viki (University of Zimbabwe), Tafadzwa Chengewa (Hillside Teachers College), Clever Bere, Jonathan Magabathela (National University of Science and Technology), Emmanuel Nyoni (UCE), Beloved Chiweshe and Melward Makwenjere from ZINASU were also arrested. A police defender vehicle loaded with riot police accompanied by another small vehicle carrying plain clothes policeman arrived at the campus in the afternoon. The riot police provided the backup for the plainclothes officers to drag the student leaders from the podium.

Mashungu told Newsreel that students are receiving Z$2200 in grants and yet government now wanted them to pay up to as much as Z$300 000 in tuition and boarding fees. He says the government is clearly aware students are disgruntled over the fee increases and is trying to block any form of organized grouping or meeting from taking place. He says the majority of ‘conventional’ students that is those who are not apprentices or sponsored by private companies, have failed to make it back into college because of the new fees. The national students union ZINASU estimates over 100 000 students have since dropped out.

The government increased tuition fees by between 300 to 2000 percent depending on the courses. At the University of Zimbabwe for example, ordinary students now have to fork out Z$42 000 up from Z$2000 while veterinary students have to pay Z$180 000 up from Z$44 000. These figures exclude boarding fees.