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Anti-riot police on rampage as students protest over fees
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
April 16, 2009

More than 1000 students today at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) demonstrated over the top up fees that the University was forcing them to pay by the end of the day. Notices placed all over campus stated that students who have not paid up fees in full will be barred from writing examinations that are due to start on the 20th of April 2009.The demonstration started at the Delta Lecture theatre where the Students Representative Council (SRC) President Kurai Hoyi and the former SRC secretary general Vivid Gwede addressed the students.

The students resolved to meet the Vice Chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu at his office but were however, blocked by allegedly heavily armed anti-riot police officers with rubber truncheons, sjamboks, tear gas canisters and AK 47 assault rifles. The anti-riot police then descended on the defenseless students with brute force firing teargas canisters and beating up anyone on sight. Residents from the neighboring suburbs namely Matshemlope, Riverside and Selbourne Park also fell victim to the barbaric and violent police officers who went on a rampage terrorizing them. Several students were injured and about 30 students have been arrested and are detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

Last week students at the institution demonstrated over the high tuition fees and six students were arrested as a result. The government of Zimbabwe is not making any efforts in assisting students in tertiary institutions as tuition fees are still high and out of reach to many students.

ZINASU condemns the vicious and barbaric actions by the police, the behavior by the police is a clear indication that the operating environment for students and human rights defenders has not changed despite the formation of the inclusive government. Human rights violations are still the order the day. ZINASU calls for a new people driven constitution that will guarantee freedoms of expression and association and that police do not use force to thwart student peaceful protests.

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