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ZINASU condemns continued detention of Musokeri
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
October 15, 2012

ZINASU Secretary General, Tryvine Musokeri appeared before a Gweru magistrate today Monday 15 October 2012 facing charges of convening a gathering without notifying the regulatory authority under the draconian Public Order Security Act (POSA). After appearing briefly before the Gweru magistrate, Musokeri was remanded in custody at Whawha Remand Prison to the 29th of October 2012 for his trial.

The state further informed the court that they would embark on a man hunt for the ZINASU President (Pride Mkono) who is currently in hiding and one other activist Tinashe Mutimbanyoka who is also in hiding. What is clear however is that there is a crackdown on student activists and leaders ahead of the Copac 2nd All Stakeholders Conference, a possible referendum and watershed elections currently hinted for March next year.

The Gweru court room was packed with hundreds of students from Midlands State University (MSU), Mkoba Teachers College and Gweru Polytechnic who came in solidarity with Musokeri. Students sang outside the court building demanding the immediate release of Musokeri. Meanwhile heavily armed riot police officers were present at the court building and soon after Musokeri appeared in court and were remanded; the police dispaced students who were singing outside the court.

It has become abundantly clear that by targeting the top leadership of ZINASU, the regime would be able to muzzle the student voice ahead of critical national processes and thus completely disenfranchise students from participating meaningfully in key national processes that would expand the horizon of democracy in Zimbabwe. ZANU PF on the other hand would be dominating the scene with its CIO based organisation masquerading as representing students, ZICOSU thus arresting and detention of ZINASU leaders is part of the ZANU PF strategy to retain power at all costs.

ZINASU condemns with full contempt this fascist style of implementing the law and the union further calls for the abolishment of POSA by the legislature which is long overdue since it clearly tramples on the fundamental rights of man as enshrined in various regional and international conventions.

However despite of all these challenges ZINASU remains committed to contribute immensely in the transition from autocracy to a much more mature democracy and again we would not be cowed down by any ill intentions or targeted repression as we are currently experiencing. If at all, these challenges are serving to strengthen us and increasing our determination to fight this oppressive system that has served to cut our democratic space and rights.

We stand in solidarity with our Secretary General fully aware that undeserved suffering is redemptive and further aware that the current system of repression is slowly consuming itself and will eventually collapse for history will absolve us in our cause to fight for a better country. As students we are convinced without an aorta of doubt that Zimbabwe is our country too!

Longlive Comrade Musokeri; Longlive ZINASU!

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