14 September 2009
The Zimbabwean
By Natasha Hove
MUTARE – Police have arrested student leaders at Mutare Polytechnic following the publication of their open letter to Education Minister David Coltart bemoaning the collapse of the education sector.
Student Representative Council (SRC) President Charles Chiyangwa and Secretary-General Bestinos Kundishora were detained at the Mutare CID law and order offices on Thursday in connection with the open letter published by The Zimbabwean the same day. According to their lawyer, Blessing Nyamaropa, they were charged with being a ‘criminal nuisance’ under Section 46 of the notorious Criminal Law and Codification and Reform Act. They were released after paying fines of US$5 on Friday, said Nyamaropa.
In their letter, the student leaders challenged the education ministry and the government to address the plight of students. The Zimbabwe National Union Student (Zinasu) slammed the arrest as an act of intimidation to force students to abandon their countrywide protest over high tuition fees. The arrest, they said, was a clear indication of the state’s paranoia about the union’s mobilisation for a sustained campaign against the privatisation of education in Zimbabwe. “Zinasu remains firm and steadfast in the struggle to defend the students’ rights and will not capitulate to any act of intimidation,†said Blessing Vava, the Zinasu spokesperson. Many university and college students have been forced to abandon studies over high tuition fees that the government has defended as necessary to revive the ruined education sector. Vava added: “Zinasu condemns the continued harassment of students by the government of the day and the union will continue fighting against the privatisation of education in Zimbabwe.â€