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Students declare support for Tsvangirai
Africa News
May 19, 2008

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18328

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) general Council which met in Harare over the weekend has resolved to rally behind Morgan Tsvangirai in the forthcoming run-off Presidential election set for June 27.

Briefing journalists soon after adoption of the resolutions of the General Council (GC), ZINASU President, Clever Bere said the GC was basically a students' summit to interrogate further the issue of the run-off election as well as adopt the way forward for students. "As students, we have met, consulted, deliberated, debated and decided clearly and categorically to rally behind a candidate who upholds democratic norms and values. in this case, the candidate is Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC. Mugabe is now illegitimate. Come run-off, we shall run-over him" Bere said.

The GC, which is an annual meeting of Presidents of Students Representative Councils (SRC's) from all institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe was attended by over sixty (60) colleges and universities from all parts of the country. The students castigated the Mugabe military junta for perpetrating violence against unarmed civilians for the simple 'crime' of exercising their democratic right to vote, to vote for Tsvangirai in the March 29 harmonized but controversial elections.

The students resolved to defend their vote and employ counter violence measures to protect their parents as well as the general electorate from the 'diabolic Mugabe regime'.

Blessing Vava, Zinasu Information and Publicity Secretary said that they are aware of a bogus 'students march in support of Mugabe' which Zimbabwe Congress of Student Unions (ZICOSU), the anti-students, Zanu-PF counter organization to ZINASU is organizing for May 30. "We shall not lie idle. ZICOSU represents the interests of Zanu-PF and not the students. It has neither constituency nor students mandate. Genuine students are here at this GC. They have met today and re-affirmed their sympathy, support and allegiance to the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai and the Democracy project at large."

Bere also said that the forthcoming election was a technical election requiring technical support and systems to guard against rigging. He said the students will do their part as a duty to the suffering nation without fail. He could not be drawn into discussing details of what exactly the students will do saying "they are issues of operational strategy which can not be discussed through the press." However, he was very worried that with the opening of colleges and universities, some students may not be able to vote since they registered in their home areas.

The GC was held amid a catastrophic education system and socio-eco-political environment and challenges which include astronomically exhobitant fees beyond the reach of the majority, poor food quality only fit for detained enemy consumption or pets, poor education standards owing to the exodus of qualified personnel, suppression of the fundamental and academic freedoms and space such as freedom of expression, of association, of choice as well as victimisation, intimidation, physical elimination, suspension and unilateral expulsion of students leaders seen as critic of the regime.

"Our patience is at an end," said the students quoting 1978 Zipra commander, Nikita Mangena. " We can not fold our arms as the government 'masturbates' on fundamental students rights and academic freedom and space. Students' rights are human rights. Our hope is Tsvangirai. We therefore encourage all students, women, the youth, and all Zimbabweans of sound mind to vote for Tsvangirai in the forthcoming 'run-over' elections," said Bere.

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