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University police accused of stealing school fees from arrested student
Tererai Karimakwenda, SW Radio Africa
March 02, 2006

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news010306/unicops010306.htm

The student leaders who were arrested earlier this week finally gained their freedom on Wednesday after spending several nights under shocking conditions. Their lawyer said he believed the Attorney General had refused to prosecute and the police will have to proceed by summons. The 6 student leaders, including Washington Katema, Wellington Mahohoma, Collen Chibango, Tinei Sande and Mfundo Mlilo from the Zimbabwe National Students Union, were arrested on Monday as they attempted to approach officials at University of Zimbabwe to discuss the recent ten-fold increase in tuition fees which they say they cannot afford.

But security details at the Harare campus descended on them and said they were not allowed to gather or approach any officials.

Katema told us after his release Wednesday that they were brutally assaulted and denied medical attention. The students also say that University security took money from Tinei Sande which was meant for his school fees.

Sande’s eye was badly damaged and swollen. He had tears constantly rolling down his cheeks. Another student suffered a broken jaw, and despite the severity of their injuries, police denied them access to medical assistance. It was only after their release that they sought medical help with assistance from The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

Katema also told us that the police at Harare Central put them in a cell with a deranged man who attacked them all night. He said even in the face of this danger, the police would not move the violent man to another cell. Katema said he believes the psycho was a state agent placed there to intimidate them and discourage them from future actions. He said there are over 300 cells at Harare Central and it seemed rather obvious why the police to force them to share with this attacker.

Their lawyer Tafadzwa Mugabe told us a complaint has already been filed outlining all these abuses and seeking damages from the security details at the University and from the police. There is a hearing Thursday morning to determine if the police are guilty and liable.

More details about the student arrests can heard on In The Balance with Gugulethu Moyo, who explores the legal issues.

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