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Students under attack
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
April 02, 2007

Students in Zimbabwe's tertiary institutions are under serious and life threatening attacks by the unruly regime of Robert Mugabe. The ZINASU President, Promise Mkwananzi is currently in hiding, after being reliably informed that he is amongst the top most wanted pro-democracy activists. An innocent student was viciously attacked by state security agents in town after being mistaken for Mkwananzi. The student was however released after producing his identity. He sustained a broken jaw.

Two student leaders from the University of Zimbabwe were severly assaulted on the 21st of March 2007, whilst on their way to their halls of residents from the evening study at around 8.45pm. One of the student leaders, Tatenda Kunaka sustained two deep cuts in the face. Another student leader, again from the University of Zimbabwe, Lovemore Chinoputsa, was attacked by the police in town at the Haverst House and sustained internal injuries. Lovemore is currently admitted at a private clinic in Borrowdale, Harare. ZINASU Vice President, Gideon Chitanga, was physically assaulted by non-uniformed police officers at the Magistrates courts in Masvingo today, where he was to appeared in court for his trial after being arrested for addressing a Students General Meeting at the Masvingo State University in February this year.

Two student activists from the Bulawayo Polytechnic College, Lancelot Mugadza and Obey Munyoro who were on suspension, were last week expelled from college after having addressed students in the campus dining hall. Lancelot was a candidate for the SRC Presidential elections which were then held after his expulsion.

Meanwhile, students and their leaders all over the country have vowed to support the two day stayaway, which was called for by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). The action is on from 3rd of April to the 4th of April 2007. The stay away comes against a backdrop of high annual inflation rate, which is currently pegged at 1729.9%, high cost of living, exhobitant prices of the anti-retroviral drugs among other issues.

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