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UZ student leader arrested
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
November 13, 2006

Harare - University of Zimbabwe Students Executive Council (SEC) vice president was arrested on Wednesday after a demonstration that rocked the oldest university in the country. Clifford Hlatywayo was picked up with plain clothed security officers after students protested against the continued strike by the lecturers and the non academic staff.

The students union under the interim leadership of Clifford held an extra ordinary general meeting in one of the halls of residence foyer where it was resolved to embark on a peaceful march to the vice chancellors office the following morning. Clifford addressed the students after the president was suspended several months ago. In the middle of the meeting overzealous university security officers invaded the venue armed to the teeth and started firing tear gas canisters at the crowd and indiscriminately began assaulting students with baton sticks and clinched fits. In rejoinder, the students started throwing stones at the security officers, in the skirmish, windows and property worth millions of Zimbabwe dollars was destroyed. The university had to call for reinforcement from the Avondale police station to disperse the disgruntled students who had spent several days without proper meals and lectures as a result of the industrial action by the university staff.

Hlatywayo was then picked up in the morning of Monday in his room at the campus. He was taken to the Avondale police station were he was charged with malicious injury to property. Clifford is set to appear before the Harare magistrate courts tomorrow.

In a similar incident, another student, Tatenda Kunaka was arrested on Thursday in connection with the demonstrations at the UZ. The university security had to break into his residence room at the campus. He was arrested at around 2am in the middle of the night. He was later released at around 3 pm after they had viciously and satanically assaulted him. There was a stampede as university security officers rushed to attack Tatenda who was only armed with his pencil and books.  

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