Masvingo student leader finally released, 3 more still detained

By Tererai Karimakwenda
24 October, 2007

The secretary general of the Great Zimbabwe University Students Executive Council (SEC), Edison Hlatshwayo, was finally released on bail by police in Masvingo on Wednesday. The student leader has been in remand prison since September 27 facing charges of malicious injury to property and it was feared his health was failing due to poor conditions in prison and severe assaults by police.

The prosecution insist that Hlatshwayo damaged a telephone booth during disturbances at the university earlier in September, and have opposed bail on numerous occasions claiming he would abscond. But fellow students and others believe the lengthy sentence is unjustified and that the Zimbabwean authorities are ‘making an example of him’ in order to deter other students from engaging in political activity.

His lawyer Dumisani Hwacha spoke to Gugulethu Moyo about the case on the programme ‘In the Balance’ on Wednesday. Hwacha said the student leader had previously been granted Z$5 million bail by the magistrate, and ordered to leave his passport with the court. But the prosecution opposed bail and said they would appeal to a higher court, effectively undermining the authority of the magistrate. Suddenly on Wednesday the prosecution decided not to contest the magistrate’s bail decision, and Hlatshwayo was subsequently released Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile 3 other students from Great Zimbabwe University remain in custody in Masvingo, facing contempt of court charges over demonstrations that took place in court last week. They are
George Makamure, Brenda Mupfurutsa and Ogylive Makova. The 3 appeared in court Saturday and were remanded in custody. Their bail hearing was scheduled for Tuesday then postponed to Thursday, October 25.