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International Human Rights Day commemorations
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
December 10, 2009

"Everyone has a right to a peaceful coexistence, the basic educational freedoms, the alleviation of suffering, and the opportunity to lead a productive life." Jimmy Carter

Zimbabwe National Students Union, (ZINASU) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Human Rights Day under the banner "Embrace Diversity and End Discrimination". Students in tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe have continuously been fighting tirelessly for the resurgence of quality and affordable education for all in the country irregardlines of class, age, political affiliation, gender or creed. The International Students Day Commemorations have come at a time when students in Zimbabwe are mourning the death of access to education by the majority of students with this year alone recording a students drop out rate of 33% as a result of the unaffordable fees.

Education has since been turned into a preserve for the elite. The formation of the Inclusive Government raised hope for many students who saw the tripartite marriage as an opportunity for the revival of the education sector but to date, no meaningful improvement has been documented, evidenced by high lecturer attrition, exorbitant tuition fees, dilapidated infrastructure, poor accommodation facilities, outdated ICT materials and the most painful is the continued abuse of student activists in various colleges.

The day comes against a backdrop of continued human rights abuses especially in the students' community. Students have continued to be victimized in institutions of higher learning. The year (2009) alone ZINASU has recorded, 6 expulsions and 6 suspensions of students at National University of Science and Technology and 1 expulsion and 23 suspensions at Great Zimbabwe University. The Union castigates the continued harassment of student activists in institutions of higher learning and calls for an end to student victimization. The female student has continued to bear the brunt of the crisis in the education sector. Their only crime being defending and protecting academic freedoms in institutions of higher learning.

Finally, we dedicate this day to all the students who have been arrested, tortured, assaulted, killed or maimed for the promotion of human rights in Zimbabwe.

Visit the ZINASU fact sheet

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