| |
Back to Index
University
of Zimbabwe students demonstrate
Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU)
May 11, 2007
Yesterday the 10th of
May students from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) demonstrated over
continued deterioration of education standards, health, accomodation,
food and social standards currently bedevelling the University and
the nation at large.The protests started just before the launch
of Student Executive Council (SEC) presidential election campaign
for Terrence Chimhavi, a renowed human rights defender and proponent
of democracy in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) leadership led by the
Secretary general Beloved Chiweshe, UZ SRC President Tineyi Mukwewa,
Secretary General, Maureen Kademaunga, Zwelithini Viki ( Information
and publicity Secretary), Student Representative Assembly (SRA)
Chairperson Kudzai Mupazvirio, Bulawayo Polytechnic College SRC
President Blessing Vava and aspiring UZ presidential candidate Terrence
Chimhavi addressed the students before overzealous UZ security officers
started beating up defenceless students.
In rejoinder, the students started singing revolutionary songs denouncing
the university Chancellor Mr Robert Mugabe and the Vice Chancellor
Levy Nyagura . The security then started firing tear gas cansters
and in response the students started destroying property and left
a trail of destuction . The student leadership tried to quell the
angry students but to no avail. The endurance bowl was just but
splilling over. Windows of the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, Main
Library, Great Hall, Swinton Dining Hall, New Complxes 2, 3 and
4 were smashed. Three university cars were smashed beyond repair.
Riot police armed to the teeth with sophisticated artillery descended
on the campus and fired several gunshots and teargas after which
they started beating up students indiscriminately. Two vicious dogs
were unleashed on the defenceless students which resulted in four
students being mauled and they are currently admitted at a private
hospital together with other 15 injured students.
Several students were arrested including Prosper Munatse and Munyaradzi
Seredzayi. Names of the rest are still not known .Blessing Vava
whose historic address sent the students wild is still at large
and efforts to contact him have been futile.
Meanwhile the situation at UZ remains tense as riot police are still
present.
The students are yet to be adressed by the Vice Chancellor over
the lecturers strike which has been ongoing since January, the accomodation
crisis which saw the eviction of more than 1500 male students, the
extension of Mugabe's term of office which means he remains the
Chancellor for the next five years (GOD FORBID).
Visit the ZINASU
fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
