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A Harare Magistrate sets UZ students free
Student Solidarity Trust
March 02, 2008

A Harare magistrate has today granted a refusal of remand order on five University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students. The five are Ceasar Sitiya, Tatenda Chiuya, Manifest Jabuli, Shingairai Chikomba and Thabani Moyo.Their case arose from the disturbances that rocked the university in July 2007, when students protested against top up fees. When they appeared in court today the magistrate granted them the order sought by their lawyer, this means that the state will proceed by way of summons if they want to continue with the case.

One student, Shadreck Vengesai has been further remanded to the 19th of this month. Shadreck is being charged together with the five but was arrested separately. It only comes up this morning that his name appears on a different charge sheet from the five. Shaun Matsheza the acting president of the University of Zimbabwe students' executive council (SEC) was issued with a warrant of arrest after failing to appear in court. All the seven students were being charged with malicious destruction of property. Since July the seven were on remand.

Commenting on this Kudzayi Kadzere, a law student at the University of Zimbabwe who attended the court proceedings said "As the students of Zimbabwe we greet the magistrate's decision with happiness. This vindicates our view that the five were being persecuted n violation of their constitutional rights. They should never have been arrested and detained in the first place."

In a related story, Marvelous Kumalo the ZINASU advocacy officer, Themba Maphenduka (ZINASU Treasurer) and seven others who were yesterday remanded in custody by a Chitungwiza magistrate has lodged an urgent application with the high court of Zimbabwe. It is set to be heard tomorrow. The nine were arrested on Friday while campaigning for Kumalo who is running for the St Mary's constituency house of assembly seat. This is in line with the ZINASU congress resolution which urged students and former students to take up leadership positions. They are being charged with public violence after ZANU PF youths attacked their group during the door to door campaign. Chitungwiza police had sanctioned the door to door under the Public Order and Security Act.

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