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SASCO, SAUS, ZINASU hold joint press conference
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
May 15, 2007

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), the South Africa Students Congress (SASCO) , a student political formation linked to African National Congress (ANC) and South Africa Union of Students (SAUS) held a press conference today at Transparency International Offices in Harare.

The press conference came in light of the National Tour that was organized by ZINASU to afford the delegates a first hand observation, survey and view of the situation in Zimbabwe. The delegation visited resettled farms, colleges and most of the Universities in Zimbawe. They also participated in the ZINASU General Council meeting as observers. The South African delegates were in a serious state of shock by the deteriorating standards of both human rights and governance.

The representatives of these two student unions from South Africa blamed the government of Zimbawe for the deep seated and multifaceted political, social and economic calamity besetting our motherland. They noted that Zimbabwe needs a visionary leadership premised on respect for and protection of human rights, good governance, constutionalism, people -driven constitution and democracy. The delegation promised to move from rhetoric support to practical solidarity with the suffering people of Zimbabwe, students included.

SAUS is organising a demonstration in Pretoria (Tswane) and Cape Town over the wanton human rights violations which experts in the contemporary human rights literature technically refer to as smart genocide, which is premised on covert operations such as political assasinations, abductions, arrests and torture of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. The smart genocide will systematically lead to the elimination of all the pro-democracy activists in the country.This march will be held on the Africa Day, 25th of May 2007.

ZINASU Acting President Mr. Gedion Chitanga urged the government to take action on the measures called for in the Resolution on the situation of Human rights in Zimbabwe, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights ( ACHPR on 5 December 2005) in the Gambia.

News in brief

ZINASU in Ghana

ZINASU president, Promise Mkwananzi, who is in Ghana attending the 41th session of African Commission on People and Human Rights met with the leadership of All Africa Students Union (AASU). Ghana is currently holding the AASU Secretary Generals' post and hosting its secretariat. AASU is set to hold its next congress this year and Zimbabwe might host the big event. Mkwananzi also met with the Minister of State Security and Minister of Education yesterday. Mkwananzi is also scheduled to meet the President of Ghana, Mr. John Kuffor, who is also the current chair of the African Union.

Students still in police custody

Two students, Prosper Munatsi and Munyaradzi Chikorohondo who were arrested on the 10th of May 2007 during a demonstration at the University of Zimbabwe are still in Police Holding Cells. They appeared before a magistrate court for initial remand in the morning but the prosecutor is said to have told the police that the arrested had not violated the Public Order and Security Act. The police however ignored the prosecutors' opinion and the accused's Lawyers, Harrison Nkomo and Beatrice Mtwetwa, approached the High Court. The High Court subsequently granted an urgent chamber application that the accused should be released within 24 hours.

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