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It never rains but it pours for Zinasu leadership
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
November 01, 2012

The Zinasu Information Department has just received reports that Pride Mkono (Zinasu president) has been arrested in Gweru. Mkonno, who traveled to Gweru on 31 October with money to pay for Musokeri's bail was apprehended this afternoon for failure to attend a court session in which he and Musokeri together with another student were to answer to charges preferred on them under the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA). The charges against the trio developed after they were arrested for addressing students at Midlands State University earlier this year.

Mkono's arrest comes a day after the release of Tryvine Musokeri who was incarcerated in Whawha remand prison for over one month. Believe Tevera (Zinasu Vice-President) who was recently suspended from MSU for writing a letter to the editor published in the Newsday demanding Musokeri's release was with the president when he was arrested. Tevera suspects that the uniformed officers who took Mkono had clandestinely and surreptitiously been following them around waiting for and opportune moment to pounce on the unsuspecting Mkono.

Zinasu fears for Mkono's health as he is most likely going to be taken to the dreadful and squalid Whawha prison from which Tryvine Musokeri barely escaped with his life after weeks and weeks of being feasted upon by lice in an environment were there is always a possibility of a typhoid and cholera outbreak.

Zinasu continues to call for the amendment of POSA as it has resulted it in many superfluous arrests and gratuitous suffering of Human rights defenders. All proceedings leading to Mkono's arrest are a result of an unjust law. Zinasu demands Mkono's immediate and unconditional release. Student leaders should not be persecuted for executing their duty of representing the ordinary student.

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