Police arrest 15 students during Masvingo demonstrations

By Lance Guma
21 February 2006

The ongoing countrywide demonstrations by students spread to Masvingo Polytechnic on Tuesday, as police briefly arrested 15 students before releasing them later in the day. The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) is leading the protests and has warned of more demonstrations to come if the government does not reverse a tenfold hike in tuition and boarding fees. Mfundo Mlilo the spokesman of the Committee coordinating the strikes told Newsreel they spent the day addressing students in different lecture rooms at the Polytechnic.

At midday all students converged on the main dining hall before they started marching around campus chanting protest songs. Masvingo police responded by sending truckloads of riot squads to crush the demonstration. According to Mlilo 15 students were arrested in the skirmishes. These include ZINASU president Washington Katema, Secretary General Promise Mkwananzi, Academic and legal affairs secretary Wellington Mahohoma and Mlilo himself. They were only released because the police could not facially recognise the ZINASU leadership.

On Tuesday last week the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) closed down after violent demonstrations that saw the destruction of windows and cars on the campus. The Bulawayo Polytechnic has also been shut down following similar protests. Students from the Medical School at the University of Zimbabwe also took to the streets around Parirenyatwa hospital and have refused to attend to patients in the wards.

Last week government announced a shocking fee hike for colleges and universities. Average fees rocketed from Z$3,5 million to around Z$35 million a year and this is in spite support grants being around Z$11,5 million per year, far below student requirements. ZINASU meanwhile say they are moving to Masvingo, Morgenster and Bondolfi Teachers Colleges to instigate more demonstrations. They say dialogue with government has already broken down and the only language Mugabe’s government understands is confrontation.