Masvingo students riot over arrest of their leader

Police came to the campus Thursday evening to arrest Ngwarai

over a demonstration held last week. Students however vowed to defend him

and this led to clashes, which saw police indiscriminately assault everyone

within sight. Several students were injured in the chaos. Police claim

Ngwarai, a legal and academic secretary with the Zimbabwe National Students

Union, incited students to demonstrate during an address he made last week.

The university has also suspended him.

Meanwhile over 600 students at the Chinhoyi University of Technology

demonstrated on campus Wednesday, demanding that Robert Mugabe step down for

bringing untold misery to the population. At least 2 truckloads of riot

police descended on the campus and assaulted the peaceful students. Police

arrested 5 student leaders, including Faith Mutepa and Priviledge

Matizanadzo.  They were taken to Chinhoyi Central Police Station where they

are still in police custody. ZINASU said no charges have been filed against

them, but there are unfounded allegations that the group assaulted some

police officers.

ZINASU Information secretary Blessing Vava, Treasurer Themba Maphenduka and

Chinhoyi University Students’ Union leader Faith Mutepa, all addressed

students in the dining hall. The speakers attributed the total collapse of

tertiary education to the crisis of national governance in the country.

ZINASU say war veterans later abducted Vava and his whereabouts are still

unknown. ZINASU President Clever Bere issued a warning to Mugabe’s regime

saying Zimbabweans will not accept any games in the event of a run-off. He

called for international supervision of the election and that results be

announced within 48 hours. The students have also demanded an end to the

politically motivated violence.