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ZINASU fears for Musokeri's life
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
October 02, 2012

The ordeal of the arrested ZINASU Secretary General Tryvine Musokeri who was taken into custody by the notorious CID Law and Order detectives at Harare Magistrate court on Friday the 28th of September 2012 for on allegations of contempt of court and organising an illegal demonstration in Gweru continues.

Musokeri yesterday appeared before a Gweru magistrate who remanded him in custody at the pathetic, filthy and deplorable colonial detention camp, Hwahwa Remand Prison for an indefinite period of time. While in police custody, Musokeri was denied opportunity to communicate with relatives or lawyers as prescribed in the constitution of the country.

ZINASU fears for his life given the fact that Hwahwa like many detention centres around the country have no access to clean water or ablution facilities which can potentially lead to outbreak of such diseases as cholera and typhoid which are fatal in prisons where basic health care is nonexistent. To exacerbate Musokeri's situation, during the days he has been in police cells, he has been denied food which his colleagues were bringing to Harare Central Police Station. Furthermore, Zimbabwean prisons are notorious for blood thirst lice and giant mosquitoes which ruthlessly prey on inmates not to mention that food is a luxury and inmates survive in semi starvation mode.

It is our belief as ZINASU indeed as also informed by the United Nations Charter and various other conventions which Zimbabwe is party to, that all humans are born with inherent dignity which should be protected at all times and one of the many ways of protecting this dignity is by upholding the individuals' fundamental right from torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. That the conditions at Hwahwa are inhuman and degrading is an open secret and thus Musokeri's rights have clearly been disregarded.

The Union condemns in the strongest of terms this harassment of an innocent citizen and academic who works hard for the development of his country. We call for the speedy release of Musokeri and his 3 colleagues arrested for organising an illegal demonstration and restoration of their rights and freedom since they have no case to answer. Our message is; FREE Musokeri FREE!!

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