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Student unrest; UZ evicts all students from campus residence
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
July 09, 2007

The University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor, Professor Levy Nyagura has evicted all students from the campus residence after disturbances that rocked the oldest institution of higher learning on the 3rd of July and 7th of July 2007. Students are protesting against the $ ZW 1 000 000 top up fees. The top up came as result of the extension of the semester by the University. The students are questioning the rationale of paying for the incompetence of the university administration of failing to end the semester as scheduled because of the lecturers who went on a three months long strike.

On the 3rd of July more than 3000 students converged at New Complex 4 residence and before they could make resolutions armed police descended and started to indiscriminately assault students, in the melee, more than 15 students were injured and 3 were arrested.

On the 7th of July heavily armed police with sophisticated artillery, teargas canisters, Israeli water canons and vicious dogs descended on the students as they were holding a peaceful review meeting. Seven students were arrested, including Saun Matsheza, the student union vice President and Caeser Sitiya, Student Representative Assembly member. They are still languishing at the notorious Harare Central Police Station. Several students were seriously injured and are currently receiving treatment at Avenues Clinic, one of them, Jotham Shumba sustained a broken limb.

The whereabouts of the Students' Union President Lovemore Chinoputsa are not known, his life is in danger and the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) are working flat out to assist the students.

Visit the ZINASU fact sheet

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