ZINASU leader arrested as over 12 students receive expulsion letters

By Lance Guma
27 October 2006

The police clampdown on student activism continued Friday with the arrest of Promise Mkwananzi, the president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). Police arrested Mkwananzi outside the Bulawayo Magistrates court for taking pictures with his camera-phone, during a solidarity protest by students. The students were marching in support of 43 colleagues who were appearing in court for taking part in a demonstration pressing for an increase in payouts and improvements in general learning conditions. Police officers confiscated his phone and took him to Bulawayo central police station for further questioning.

Under harsh media laws journalists are required to be accredited by a state commission before they can work. In Mkwananzi’s case it’s not clear whether they can place charges along those lines given his position in the student body and that he was using his personal mobile phone. Meanwhile ZINASU coordinator Washington Katema told Newsreel they have received reports that about 7 students from Hillside Teachers College and another 5 from the United College of Education (UCE) received expulsion letters over this week's demonstrations. Katema says its all part of an attempt to victimise students and kill off their activism. All the students who appeared in court on Friday were granted free bail and will next appear in court on 5th November.

On Monday 12 student leaders from Masvingo State University were arrested for allegedly holding an illegal general meeting with students. Among those arrested was the ZINASU Vice President Gideon Chitanga. The week has seen a total of 55 arrests and 12 expulsions but Katema told Newsreel the students are prepared to pay the price required for them to achieve their goals.