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Students march on the streets of Masvingo
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
November 13, 2006

Hundreds of students from institutions of higher learning in and around Masvingo region took to the streets to present a petition to the Provincial Governor and Resident Minister, Willard Chiwewe on the 8 ^th of November 2006. The students demonstrated against issues ranging from exorbitant fees being charged at tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe, students' victimization and the administration bungling at Zimbabwe Schools Examination Councils (ZIMSEC) after the leakages of ordinary level English Paper II among others. The demonstration was led by the ZINASU presidium made up of the President, Mr. Promise Mkwananzi, Vice President, Mr. Gideon Chitanga and Secretary General, Mr. Beloved Chiweshe.

The students were from Masvingo State University, Masvingo Teachers College, Masvingo Polytechnic College, Bondolfi and Morgenster Teachers Colleges . Nineteen students, including Mr. Gideon Chitanga were arrested after the demonstration and were charged under the notorious Public Order and Security Act (POSA). They were later on released on bail on the 10^th of November and are to appear at the Masvingo magistrate courts on the 20^th of this month.

The ZINASU presidium made frantic efforts trying to meet the Governor but the security staff at the complex that houses the Governor's offices denied them entry citing that Mr. Chiwewe was out of office. Tens of heavily armed police descended at these offices when the presidium was still trying to gain entry to the offices arresting and injuring some students as they tried to disperse the placards carrying rioters. Chitanga Gideon and Sobala Moyo were all picked up well after at Masvingo State University where they are students. The police later on commented through the Herald newspaper saying it was an illegal demonstration that was not sanctioned by the police.

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