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Students released and taken to private clinic
Lance Guma, SW Radio Africa
May 16, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news160507/students160507.htm

Two University of Zimbabwe student leaders Prosper Munatsi and Munyaradzi Chikorohondo were released Wednesday following a High Court order issued on Tuesday. State prosecutors had refused to prosecute arguing the students had not violated the Public Order and Security Act during a demonstration last week. They said the matter had to be dealt with in terms of the university's own laws. Upon release Chikorohondo and Munatsi were immediately taken to a private clinic for treatment following injuries sustained during assaults by university security guards and police. Munatsi sustained a broken arm while Chikorohondo was said to be still bleeding from the ear.

The students have also been taken for counselling at the offices of local NGO, the Amani Trust who assist victims of state violence and human rights abuses. The university exploded into commotion last week Thursday following the disruption of a campaign rally that was meant to precede student council elections. One aspiring candidate Terence Chimhavi was expelled on Tuesday by university authorities while another 8 candidates suspended. The students allege this is part of purge meant to allow government-sponsored candidates a clear run for positions.

Meanwhile the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Youth Movement Freeman Chari said two members of their group arrested Tuesday have still not been released. He says their lawyers were not been able to access Collin Chibango and Wellington Mahohoma who were arrested alongside 60-80 vendors at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Harare. The police allege the vendors were selling products illegally on the black market and that the youth leaders were inciting them to resist arrest when police tried to pick them up. The youths however say armed police arrived in Defender trucks and began assaulting everyone present. When the youth leaders asked why authorities were arresting ordinary vendors trying to earn a living under a harsh economy the police arrested them.

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