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Ailing student denied bail again
Henry Makiwa, SW Radio Africa
October 15, 2007

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news151007/ailingstudent151007.htm

Edison Hlatshwayo, the secretary general for the students union at the Great Zimbabwe University, has been in custody for nearly three weeks for allegedly defying police authority. On Monday he was further denied bail by a Masvingo court.

Hlatshwayo has been tortured and incarcerated at the hard criminals lockup of Mutimurefu prison and was remanded in custody until Wednesday, after a magistrate ruled that the police still need to investigate the case. Student bodies and civil organizations have criticized the ruling, citing Hlatshwayo's failing health and the lack of police evidence.

Activists at the Zimbabwe Students Union and the Students Solidarity Trust (SST) have charged that Hlatshwayo's continued incarceration is because security agents targeted him.

SST spokesman Simba Moyo said Hlatswayo was being denied bail as the police was "getting back at him".

"Its unclear why the police would allege they still want to investigate Edison. They allege he got rowdy at an event so they should simply charge him for that and contest the case," Moyo said.

"We are aware however that there is one particular officer called Mutambiri who harbors a grudge with Edison and wants him to languish for as long as possible in prison. Our friend is being denied food and is not well so we have launched a campaign to publicise his case to the outside world."

Hlatshwayo was arrested on allegations of malicious injury to property and assault, while attending a public meeting organized by the Zimbabwe Youth Forum at Charles Austin theatre hall in Masvingo.

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