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Ten arrested at NUST for demanding election results
Student Solidarity Trust
April 19, 2008

National University of Science and Technology (NUST) students yesterday staged a demonstration at campus premises demanding among other things that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) release the overdue presidential results and that the fees they were paying should be revised downwards as they are beyond the reach of majority. Zimbabweans have been unconstitutionally kept in the dark for almost three weeks now on the official results of the Presidential polls by ZEC. The Movement for Democratic Change, other presidential contestants and civic society organizations however have the results obtained from the V11 posted at the 9 108 polling stations country wide. After a sobering realization that ZEC has even become more partisan, that the legal recourse is futile after MDC High Court case demanding the urgent release of the results was rubbished by Justice Tendai Uchena and that SADC and Southern African President, Thabo Mbeki have no solution to the presidential results impasse; the students resorted to a demonstration to make a bold statement on the deadlock.

The arrested students who were detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station are second year students Vananceo Jachi studying Environmental Science, Trevor Chizanga and Mpokuhle Mabhena both studying Journalism and Media Studies. First year students: Innocent Rangeti studying Forestry Resources and Widlife management, James Magombo- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Chipo Munaro- Library and Information Science, Isheanotida Nyakucha-Finance and Tendai.

Their lawyer from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Kossam Ncube was yesterday denied access twice to his clients. Eight of the ten, serve for Chizanga and Tendai who face a different charge from others, have been released after they were forced to pay admission of guilty fines. The eight according to the Lawyer were charged under the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act for conduct likely to provoke a breach of peace. The two students still in the cells have not yet been charged but are likely to face Malicious Injury to Property. Windows and several cars were stoned and a tuck-shop was reduced to rubbles during the other wise peaceful demonstration.

Vananceo Jachi collapsed soon after release due to torture during his detention at the Bulawayo Central Police. He had a swollen leg and alleges to have been assaulted by police officers using button sticks underneath their feet and all over the body. He was admitted yesterday at Galen House Clinic and is being attended to by Dr. A. M. Jackson.

Grant Tabvurei NUST student leader accused the police of being violent when reacting to their peaceful protest and says that they shall forever uphold non-violent democratic processes.

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