University student leaders re-arrested and assaulted in detention

By Lance Guma
18 November 2005

Riot police descended on the University of Zimbabwe on Thursday and re-arrested the entire student leadership. What had been planned as a routine meeting between the student body and the Vice Chancellor, Levi Nyagura ended up in dramatic scenes of brutality. Nyagura accused the students of violating the conditions of their suspensions. This despite the fact that High Court Judge Ben Hlatshwayo dismissed the alleged suspension as null and void, since the students had a right to express their grievances.

Nyagura tried to get the students to sign suspension letters and called the police when they refused. The Secretary General Mfundo Mlilo says authorities feared they were about to instigate a demonstration and hence the quick arrests. They were assaulted whilst in custody and on release on Friday, Garikai Kajau one of the leaders was admitted at the Avenues clinic with a swollen eye. Mlilo narrated how they were confined to over-crowded cells with human waste all over. He believes the state is worried the restlessness at the university will spill into a national revolt.

There has been a gradual and systematic victimization of the student leaders on the campus. The President Henthel Mavuma was earlier in the year expelled on frivolous cheating charges while the others were first removed from residence, suspended and then arrested twice in 2 weeks. According to Mlilo, the Vice Chancellor is trying to circumvent a High Court order by issuing fresh suspensions for the student leaders. Meanwhile hundreds of riot police were stationed at the university campus in anticipation of student demonstrations over the arrests.