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Harassment of students, journalists continues
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
May 16, 2003

At lunch time yesterday (Thursday May 15) 12 students of the Midlands State University were arrested. Their detention was recorded in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) log, and the group was held overnight in police custody. As of this afternoon, however, three of the students have been asked to pay a $5,000 admission of guilt fine. Five of the students cannot be located, and the authorities are arguing that they are not in custody. The rest remain in custody. On Thursday morning, whistles and flyers advocating for a stay away were distributed on the MSU Campus. The students were arrested shortly after this, under allegations of having organised a rally on the previous day. In reality, there was no rally.

The Coalition urges members of the public to contact MSU Vice Chancellor Professor Zvobgo on 011-400948 and encourage him to demand the release of the students. In addition, people are encouraged to phone the Officer in Charge, Gweru Central Police Station on 054 22121 to inquire after the welfare and location of the detained students.

In a separate story, For the past week, Andrew Meldrum—a permanent resident of Zimbabwe and an accredited journalist—has faced harassment and threats by Immigration officials. They have repeatedly called him in for questioning. On Tuesday, they confiscated his passport and residence permit, and repeatedly requested his presence at the Immigration Offices. This morning, when Meldrum again appeared before the immigration court, his deportation was ordered. He was taken to the airport, reportedly to be expelled on the lunchtime flight to Johannesburg. However, Meldrum did not board that flight.

Meldrum’s lawyer obtained a court order demanding his appearance before the High Court this afternoon, but the police did not present him to the courts as required.

The Coalition condemns the continued harassment of pro-democracy actors by operatives of the state machinery. It calls on the relevant authorities to present the MSU students, and Andrew Meldrum, before the appropriate courts immediately.

Update: 19 May 2003

Please note:

On Saturday 17 May, following extensive appeals by their lawyer, all of the Gweru students were released without charge. The missing ones were found at Mkoba Police Station, where they had been locked in individual isolated cells. All were released unharmed.

On Friday 16 May, Andrew Meldrum was loaded onto the 22h10 Air Zimbabwe flight to London, despite a High Court order preventing his deportation.

For more information:
Tel/Fax: +263 4 747817
Email: info@crisis.co.zw

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