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Update on the NACAPEZ campaign
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
April 23, 2009

Masvingo

Police yesterday picked up 22 Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students in connection with yet another protest by students at the main campus yesterday evening. The 22 students are still in custody at Masvingo Central Police Station and have joined ZINASU Legal Affairs Secretary Courage Ngwarai who was arrested on Tuesday 21 April 2009. The ongoing protests are part of the 'National Campaign against Privatization of Education in Zimbabwe' NACAPEZ a campaign whose main objective is to resist the high fee structure being charged by tertiary colleges. The detained students are being charged with public violence following skirmishes between the students and the university security personnel at the college main campus late afternoon. The 22 students are due to appear in court on Friday the 24th of April. Prominent and fearless lawyer Dumisani Hwacha is representing the students. Meanwhile anti riot police and soldiers maintain a heavy presence at the University main campus.

Bulawayo

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has suspended 10 student Leaders after last Thursday's demonstration over tuition fees, on charges of destruction of property. The thirteen include Student Representative Council President, Kurayi Hoyi, Secretary General Samson Nxumalo, Former Secretary General Vivid Gwede, Mukai Chigumo, Christopher Hwacha, Tawanda Saiti, Fortune Karimanzira, Degray Ziramba, Michael Zimamba and Tawanda Chimwanza. The suspended student Leaders are barred from attending lectures, examinations and from entering the university campus until they appear before a disciplinary hearing.

Political position

ZINASU condemns in the strongest of terms the continued victimization and violations of student rights at a time when everyone was celebrating the coming of the inclusive government. The latest development reminds us of the horrific moments during the racist regime of Ian Smith when human rights abuses were the daily bread. In this regard, the students insist that they are yet to see deliverables from the new government of national unity. The students remain optimistic that the inclusion of the MDC in this new government will improve their conditions and loosen primitive measures which the police have traditionally taken against innocent and peaceful students protests. The students still anticipate real and actual governance reforms which will uphold the rule of law, protect every citizen's right to express themselves and guarantee this freedom under law. There is no greater asset for a nation in need of reconstruction like Zimbabwe than an educated young human resource base. We-the students stand ready to serve our country with utmost patriotism and loyalty but all this can only happen if our government takes responsibility and assist us to complete our education whether we are rich or poor. It is time we closed the wide gap between the rich and the poor by uplifting talented young people from underprivileged backgrounds.

Policy matter

On this note, we would like to state that ZINASU has never opposed the inclusive government. What we have always opposed in the past and which we continue to oppose today is the arbitrary exercise of state power-unchecked power of the state-against innocent civilians and students. What we have fought is the increasing gap between the rich and poor which the government continues to sanction by kicking out those students that are unable to pay the fees. What we have fought is the unscrupulous violation of the principles of the global political agreement with impunity.

The constitution making process is to us a very serious matter which should address once and for all the questions of national healing, transitional justice, electoral laws, and human right and economic laws. Hence it is of paramount importance for this historic process to be as extensive as it possibly can be under the current framework. It cannot be left to the government alone because government is just but a part of governance-there are plenty more players here-the people, the civil society, the churches, labour and students unions , civil society-you name it and part of the role of government is to facilitate for a broad based process of constitutional making. For any constitution to claim an iota of legitimacy-It must be people driven and people owned. It must enjoy the proud ownership of the people. This is not a new position. This is a position which we in ZINASU have stood behind throughout the decade of our democratic struggle. Our successive congresses have underlined this point and today we still stand by it. We demand our right to education!

NB:Tuition fees at most Zimbabwe Universities are ranging from USD350-680 per semester.

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