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ZINASU D.S.G further remanded in custody
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
March 07, 2011

The government of Zimbabwe today succumbed to mounting pressure from citizens and from abroad and released 39 of the 45 detained activists who were being charged with treason. The 45 were arrested on 19 February 2011 as they were having an academic debate on the situation in North Africa. The state charged them of plotting to oust a constitutionally elected government.

The government today attempted some divide and rule antics as they left 6 activists in custody and released the rest. The six still in custody are, ZINASU Deputy Secretary General (D.S.G) Welcome Zimuto, University of Zimbabwe lecturer Munyaradzi Gwisai, Former ZINASU President Hopewell Gumbo and three others. It is alleged that there is reasonable suspicion of an offense having been committed by the six as they either organized or presented at the gathering. The remaining cadres are set to appear in court on 21 March 2011.

In his ruling the magistrate described both arrest and detention of the 39 released as illegal. The 39 were just attending a meeting and their attendance doesn't attract any charge worse off treason. Mr Marufu Mandewere representing the accused deployed the conditions to which his clients were subjected to, including being denied medical attention, subjected to forced hard labour and torture.

ZINASU condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued detention of the six activists which is a direct violation of academic freedoms in Zimbabwe. The activists have a right to hold academic discussions, hold or express their own opinions. Today students showed their disapproval by singing and chanting revolutionary songs, demanding the immediate release of the detained. The Union shall mobilize more people to attend the next court hearing and register their disapproval of the detentions.

Meanwhile the ZINASU delegation comprising of President Obert Masaraure and Secretary General Joshua Chinyere met the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and handed the following ultimatum from the students of Zimbabwe.

Students Ultimatum to Government

We the students of all tertiary Institutions in Zimbabwe:

Worried with the reluctance of the government to substantially fund education,

Concerned with the number of our fellow talented students who are either dropping out or failing to enroll at institutions of Higher learning,

Offended by the number of students who completed their studies but cannot access Certificates because of outstanding fees,

Further offended by the illegal and unjust closure of halls of residence at the University of Zimbabwe,

Disturbed with the way students are engaging in the options of last resort i.e either prostitution or poorly paid manual labor in a desperate bid to survive

Desirous of a just, equitable and robust education sector in Zimbabwe

Having realized that we are victims of policy discord inspired by parochial partisan interests of the parties in the chaotic inclusive government,

Noting that the shambolic cadetship scheme is unsustainable, selective, insufficient and repressive,

Welcoming the move by Finance Minister Tendai Biti to reintroduce the loan and grant scheme,

Troubled with the continued support for the costly and partisan Presidential Scholarship using national resources,

Aware that the government has capacity to revive full funding for all students.

We hereby declare that:

• Government should reintroduce the loan and grant scheme on or before 18 March 2011
• All students who completed their studies should access their results without further delay
• Parties in government should stop using our welfare as a campaign tool
• The University of Zimbabwe should open halls of residence with immediate effect
• An immediate cessation of funding to the Presidential scholarship

Failure to meet our demands within stipulated time frame is going to attract corrective measures from the disgruntled students of Zimbabwe.

Visit the ZINASU fact sheet

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