Date

Action

Description and nature of right violated

Names of Affected Activists

Perpetrators

Jan 08

2 Students arrested and detained for 4 days in Gweru.

The 2, carried a two-man demonstration in the city of Gweru protesting against deteriorating education standards, constant water cuts by Zinwa, constant power cuts by ZESA and demanding free and fair elections. The arrest is a clear violation of the right to petition and picket as a way of sending a message.

Onwell Marasha and Obert Masaraure.

Plain clothes police from Gweru central Police Station.

Jan 09

7 UZ students appear briefly in court on remand.

The 7 students who include the current SEC vice president Shaun Matsheza appeared in court to answer to charges of malicious injury to property. The charge emanated from the demonstration that took place on campus in July last year. The case is further remanded to the 6th of February. The state has no clear evidence to link the 7 students to the case it is charging them under (malicious injury to property).

Shaun Matsheza, Ceasar Sitiya, Shadreck Vengesai, Tatenda Chiuya, Manifest Jabuli, Shingairai Chikomba and Thabani Moyo.

College security and ZRP.

Jan 13

3 students from GZU appear in court on remand.

The 3 are facing charges of assault referred to as politically motivated public violence. They are being accused of having assaulted a fellow student called Everson Zhou last year during the orientation week. The case has however been further remanded to the 22nd of February.

Whitlow Mugwiji, Thomas Chanakira and Courage Ngwarai.

College security and ZRP.

Jan 15

Edson Hlatshwayo and George Makamure appear in court on remand.

The 2 are facing charges of malicious injury to property (MIP). The charge emanates from a demonstration that took place on campus last year in September in which the 2 are allegedly being accused of having vandalized college property. The case has been further remanded to the 26th of February.

Edson Hlatshwayo and George Makamure.

College security and ZRP.

Jan 17

Former student leaders (also current Spokesperson of the National Constitutional Assembly) appear in court on remand.

Madock Chivasa is facing charges of undermining police authority. He was arrested last year in September in Masvingo after armed police and Border Gezi youths disrupted a public meeting that had been organized by Youth Forum. The case has been further remanded to the 3rd of March.

Madock Chivasa

ZRP

Jan 23

10 suspended students from Great Zimbabwe University are summoned to a disciplinary hearing.

The 10 who include 2 female students called Brenda Mupfurutsa and Faith Nkomo have been indefinitely suspended on allegations of having violated Rules of Great Zimbabwe University Student Conduct. They have been suspended at a time when they were left with a few days to sit for their end of semerster examinations (2007). They have been denied the right to continue with their education. The disciplinary hearing failed to take place as the college authorities requested for a postponement of the hearing so that they can notify the state witnesses. Thus the hearing has been postponed to the 1st of February.

Brenda Mupfurutsa, Faith Nkomo, Thomas Chanakira, Ogylive Makova, Courage Ngwarai, George Makamure, Mukudzei Shoko, Lenny Gwata, Desmond Ncube and Edmore Makonjese.

College authorities

Jan 30

11 student activists appear in court on remand facing charges of participating in an illegal demonstration in November 2006.

The 11 student activist had been appearing in court since November 2006 on charges of having participated in an illegal demonstration. The case has however been further remanded out of custody to the 16th of April 2008. The demonstration in question took place in November 2006 in which students wanted to hand over a petition to the Governor and resident minister on the deteriorating learning environment. The 11 students were arrested for exercising the right to petition as a way of informing authorities of the plight of students.

Edson Hlatshwayo, Gideon Chitanga, Whitlow Mugwiji, George Makamure, Sobala Moyo, Mukudzei Shoko, Nicholas Govo, Edmore Munyoro, Roy Chauke, Makonjese Edmore and Priscilla.

Police and plain clothes officers.

Jan 30

Themba Maphenduka arrested and dumped in Nyamandlovu (30 kilometers outside Bulawayo).

Themba (Zinasu Treasurer) was arrested after addressing students at Bulawayo Polytechnic by plain clothes officers. He was then bundled into a police vehicle and dumped in Nyamandlovu after being threatened with death if he addresses students again.

Themba Maphenduka.

Plain clothes officers.