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The curse of violence
Students Solidarity Trust
February 11, 2011

When George H. W. Bush and then George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 1991 and 2003 respectively, they justified their cause to visit war on the Iraq population as being vital andcritical to forestall a bigger War Saddam Hussein planned to wage in the Middle East.

Indeed, Iraq has never seen peace ever since the 1979 revolution backed by the Americans. After eight years of war with Iran, Iraq plunged into yet another conflict with America three years later over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. 12 years later, the suspicion was that Iraq and Saddam Hussein were actively building a nuclear bomb despite findings to the contrary by the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA sent in to inspect Iraq's progress towards a nuclear bomb.

Similarly, ZANU PF has found reason to use violence as a tool of repression, oppression and suppression starting with the 1980s massacre of people during the infamous Gukurahundi era. From President Mugabe's famous pronouncements that his party had degrees in violence to the regular crack-down of students at college campuses.

Teachers have had to leave their posts unmanned as they are usually accused of being members of any other party other than ZANU PF.

The last couple of weeks have unfortunately reminded many Zimbabweans of the repressive nature and violent tendencies of ZANU PF and its functionaries. Despite the MDC being a participating party in the inclusive government, its Mbare offices were destroyed and supporters scattered by an orgy of violence that hit Harare's high density suburbs. Women, students and young children were not spared either as reports of displaced school-going students continue to reach the SST. Although this was not a direct attack on students, it is clear that an attack on women and children will send them scurrying for cover thereby causing students to miss lessons or lectures. The justification given by those involved in the violence is that they should not be supporting a puppet party bent on reversing the gains of independence. Indeed, ZANU PF crack-downs on students are tinged with an expression of sadness as to why they have been deserted in droves by the intelligentsia of the nation. Previous patterns of organised violence saw serious displacement of students during the last elections, 2005 Operation Murambatsvina and wanton shut-downs of Universities.

Violence has always characterised Zimbabwe's history. However, for Zimbabwe to progress and for education to prosper, such disturbances are unwelcome and must immediately cease. All the hard work put into resuscitating education will come to naught if violence continues to be part of Zimbabwe's menu. Already students have lost vital time and teachers have been displaced from their stations. If this is not immediately arrested, chaos awaits the nation and another generation will be condemned to illiteracy.

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