No joy for Hlatshwayo as police arrest more students

By Henry Makiwa
16 October 2007

Police in Masvingo on Wednesday brought to a halt a court session involving detained student activist Edison Hlatshwayo, when they arrested three students for allegedly protesting against the continued detention of their leader. Hlatshwayo who has been incarcerated for the past three weeks, was denied bail and further remanded in custody by the same court.

Brenda Muparutsa, Ketiwe Ndlovu and Blessing Dube, all female students from the Great Zimbabwe University, were dragged out of the court and taken to Masvingo central police station. In a separate incident officers from the Masvingo CID law and order section, led by assistant inspector Mutandiri, picked up three students at Great Zimbabwe University early this morning.

It is believed that they have been arrested in connection with Tuesday’s demonstration at Masvingo magistrate court in solidarity with Edison Hlatshwayo. The three are George Makamure, Gift Kuzuwazuwa and Desmond Ncube.

This brings the number of students arrested in Masvingo in the past three days to a staggering 17.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) legal secretary, Milward Makwenjere, said the students were concerned that Hlatswayo was denied bail with just twelve days left before he is due to sit for his final examinations.

He said: “We are well frustrated. The courts say Hlatshwayo’s case will only be heard on the 26th and yet he is in a very bad state health-wise and to compound matters he has an examination coming up. We are also concerned by the arbitrary arrest of students in this city. They have arrested three ladies in the middle of a court session as if they were terrorists about to blow the place up. Its quite ridiculous.”