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Totalitarianism still rife
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
June 18, 2010

The six student leaders have been denied the right to trial after the prescribed 48 hours have lapsed for arrested persons to appear in court. The ZINASU leaders were brutally assaulted yesterday evening as they were kept at different police bases with the President Obert Masaraure being held at Matapi Police Station, Vice President Tafadzwa Kutya at Harare Central Police Station, Archford Mudzengi at Braeside Police Station, Gamuchirai Mukura at Avondale Police Station and Tryvine Musokera at Stodart Police Base in Mbare.

The National Executive Council has agreed to ensure that Harare will be ungovernable if these student leaders are not released by end of day today. It is quite disturbing that ZRP has not yet reformed in the manner in which they operate. The Legal Affairs Secretary Alec Tabe lamented the government as one that has failed to bring transition to the people except furthering tyrannical rule in Zimbabwe. The six administrative regions of ZINASU are quite disheartened by this development and have vowed to increase the scale of fighting for the students' cause and the nation at large.

Meanwhile, Arnold Batirai has been suspended from Masvingo Polytechnic for two years for allegedly participating in a demonstration over exorbitant examination fees. The student leader was not given a fair trial as there was no disciplinary hearing that was conducted. The suspension has seen the number of students who have been either expelled or suspended from tertiary institutions in a space of a year rising to 47. ZINASU reviles the manner in which student activists are being victimized by the Mugabe appointed Principals and Vice Chancellors.

Students on attachment from the 8 State Universities are complaining over the issue of them being required to pay more money than those on campus. Students on attachment use less resources than those on campus for instance those on attachment do not use resources meant for examinations. A faculty of commerce student at the National University of Science and Technology who is on attachment is expected to pay US$500 whilst those on campus are expected to pay US$375, which is an insensible reality. The students are looking up to The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education to reverse this disgusting fees structure and set up.

ZINASU will have a Harare Provincial Congress tomorrow commencing at 9 am in Mount Pleasant. This is being done according to the 21st of May 2010 Extra-Ordinary General Council Meeting.

Visit the ZINASU fact sheet

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