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17
students appear in court
Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU)
April 03, 2007
Masvingo - 17
Masvingo State University (MASU) students, among them ZINASU Vice
President Gideon Chitanga appeared at Masvingo magistrate courts
on the 2nd of April 2007 to hear whether their charges under Criminal
Codification Act would be successfully referred to the Supreme Court
as had been argued by their lawyer Dumisani Hwacha of the Hwacha
and Partners Legal Firm. The student activists are being accused
of inciting other students to protest against the new fees structure,
which culminated in 1500% tuition and accommodation fees increment
in November 2006.
Masvingo magistrate
Mr. Guvamombe who was presiding over the case turned down this argument
on the basis that the students can only appeal after a verdict has
been made, despite that the charges flagrantly violate the student's
right to expression and asssociation. The students were further
remanded to the 26th of September 2007.
Meanwhile, the
University Security Officers at MASU , ZANU PF thugs and the police
continued on a savage trail, assaulting student leaders among them
Gideon Chitanga,Witlaw Mugwiji, Edson Hlatshwayo. The students were
attacked while distributing flyers to canvas for support for the
5th of April 2007 Student Representative Council Elections at Masvingo
State University. Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU),
a ZANU PF surrogate organisation and some hired youths militia are
all over the Campus freely campaigning for their candidates. The
youth militias are not students.
However, the
ZINASU Vice President Gideon Chitanga said 'we believe victory is
assured even against this adversity' and ZINASU Secretary General,
Beloved Chiweshe is scheduled to address a star rally at the University
this week before the elections.
Visit the ZINASU
fact
sheet
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