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The two Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe (SCMZ) University of Zimbabwe branch leadership, Prosper Munatsi and Munyaradzi Chikorowondo who were released from police detention on Wednesday afternoon(16/05/07) after spending six nights in police custody have been served with suspension letters today by the UZ Vice Chancellor Professor L M Nyagura. The suspension letters are dated 14 May 2007.

According to the Vice Chancellor's letter the duo have been suspended because of what he deemed irresponsible actions which allegedly contributed to the unruly and unbecoming conduct by a group of students who ended up causing extensive damage to property.

SCMZ would want to categorically state that the students had gathered to discuss genuine student concerns and that it was the University Security which provoked violence and not the students. While it is unfortunate that there was extensive damage to property, it is even more unfortunate that the UZ administration and security left the students with no alternative. Whatever damage to property, the UZ administration and its security wing should be held wholly responsible.

Furthermore, SCMZ is concerned by the UZ justice delivery procedure. It defeats all the values of justice to punish people before bringing them to a hearing. It is unjust to suspend students before hearing, because if the two are to be acquitted in a hearing, from experience, there won't be any compensation. Moreover, the suspension letter does not specify the time frame for the hearing, it just refers to a vague and embarrassing "date to be advised". The two are therefore suspended before hearing for an indefinite period, which is a great travesty of justice.

SCMZ would want to remind the UZ Vice Chancellor that harshness does not enforce obedience but it only increases disloyalty. The UZ administration should not be content with the superficial type of social analysis that deals merely with effects and fails to grapple with underlying causes.

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule the people groan." Prov 29 v 2

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