The Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) has commented on the recent arrests of 44 members of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) at the ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere, Harare.
According to ZINASU Harare Provincial Chairperson Tatenda Kudzai, the students were holding a peaceful meeting when police arrived and made the arrests.
Student activist Vital Maronjese claimed the protesters were conducting themselves peacefully when they were brutally assaulted by the police.
However, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi provided a different account.
He stated that the police intervened after being called to attend a violent situation that had erupted among the students.
Comm. Nyathi said the police were not responsible for the violence but were called in to maintain law and order.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 07 August, ZICOSU, which is aligned with the ruling ZANU-PF party, commended the police for arresting the ZINASU students, stating that the “mindless thuggery has no place in our peaceful and progressive nation.” Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union strongly condemns the brazen acts of violence and destruction perpetrated by 44 Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) hooligans at the ZESA Training Centre, Belvedere, Harare on 24 July 2024. This mindless thuggery has no place in our peaceful and progressive nation.
We applaud the swift and decisive action taken by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in restoring and maintaining order.
We stand firm in our rejection of violence and we say a resounding ‘No’ to the perpetrators of this heinous act.
Zimbabwe will not be derailed from its path of infrastructure development, economic growth, and social progress by the actions of a misguided few.
As the largest students’ union in the land, we believe it is foolhardy to act precipitously without following due legal procedures in efforts to disclose and dispose of grievances.
We urge all students to reject violence and embrace peaceful agitation, upholding the values of tranquillity and respect that our learning institutions embody.
All students must agitate towards peace.
</blockquote>
ZICOSU has been criticized by some for its close ties to the ruling party and for allegedly using its position to suppress dissenting voices and student activism that is critical of the government.
The student union is seen as an important constituency by the ruling party.
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The Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) and the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) had a conflict. ZICOSU accused ZINASU of violence and thuggery. ZINASU members were arrested by the police during a meeting. ZINASU said they were peaceful, but police said they were violent. ZICOSU supported the police's actions and said violence is not acceptable. Some people think ZICOSU is too close to the government and tries to stop students from speaking out. ZICOSU wants all students to protest peacefully and not use violence.

ZICOSU Accuses ZINASU Of Thuggery

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president Emmanuel Sitima was arrested on Friday afternoon at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport upon his return from Victoria Falls.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Sitima was taken into custody at the Harare Central Police Station, where he has been charged for allegedly missing a court appearance on July 31. The ZLHR said:
<blockquote>
We have located ZINASU leader Emmanuel Sitima and he is at Harare Central Police Station, where he has been charged for allegedly missing a court appearance, which was reportedly scheduled for 31 July. Sitima is represented by Rudo Bere of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
</blockquote>
Sitima (25), was among more than 40 students arrested by the police on Wednesday, 24 July, at the ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere, Harare after anti-riot police responded to reports of skirmishes at the venue.
The 44 arrested students were taken to Harare Central Police Station, where they were each fined US$20 and then released.
However, Sitima was re-arrested and charged with criminal nuisance, allegedly for displaying placards and insulting police outside the Harare Magistrates Court.
He was released on US$100 bail on Thursday by magistrate Dennis Mangosi who ordered him to return to court on July 31 for routine remand.
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ZIMASU President Emmanuel Sitima was arrested at the airport when he got back from Victoria Falls. He was charged for missing a court date and was taken into custody. Sitima was part of a group of students arrested before. The other students were fined and let go, but Sitima was charged again for causing trouble outside the court. He was released on bail, but now he has another court date.

ZINASU President Emmanuel Sitima Arrested

Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president, Emmanuel Sitima, was on Thursday, 25 July, granted US$100 bail following his arrest the previous day at the ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere, Harare.
Sitima (25), was arrested alongside more than 40 other students after anti-riot police responded to reports of skirmishes at the venue.
The 44 arrested students were taken to Harare Central Police Station, where they were each fined US$20 and then released.
However, Sitima was re-arrested and charged with criminal nuisance, allegedly for displaying placards and insulting police outside the Harare Magistrates Court.
Mangosi ordered Sitima to return to court on July 31 for routine remand.
In a statement tendered in court, investigating officer Fadzai Chafa said Sitima was arrested on Wednesday without a warrant.
Chafa also said Sitima was on the run since June this year. Said Chafa:
<blockquote>
The accused had been on the run and since the offence occurred, efforts to locate him were in vain.
</blockquote>
The prosecution, represented by Thomas Chanakira, told the court that on June 27 at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, Sitima was identified in video footage singing, chanting slogans, and using abusive language in the midst of a crowd of protesters.
Chanakira further alleged that Sitima, along with supporters of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) political party, had held a demonstration at the Harare Magistrates’ Court while holding placards. This demonstration occurred as 78 other activists were denied bail.
According to Chanakira, Sitima and his co-accused, who remains at large, chanted CCC slogans while tossing placards and using abusive language towards the police.
The police reportedly ordered the group to disperse, but they resisted, leading to some arrests, while Sitima managed to flee the scene.
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The president of the Zimbabwe National Students Union, Emmanuel Sitima, was arrested and granted bail of US$100. Sitima was arrested for causing disturbances at a training center in Harare. He was fined along with other students and released, but then re-arrested for displaying placards and insulting police. Sitima will return to court on July 31st. The police say Sitima had been on the run since June for similar activities. Sitima and his supporters allegedly chanted slogans and displayed placards during a protest at the court.

ZINASU President, Emmanuel Sitima, Granted US$100 Bail

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has claimed that 10 of its members were injured when armed anti-riot police raided their private meeting at the ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere, Harare on Wednesday, 24 July.
Speaking to <a href="https://cite.org.zw/police-raid-on-zinasu-meeting-leaves-10-injured-44-arrested/">CITE,</a> ZINASU Harare Provincial Chairperson Tatenda Kudzai said they were holding a meeting when police descended on the venue and brutalised some of the students. Said Kudzai:
<blockquote>
The notorious anti-riot police officers invaded our meeting and started beating up students, leaving a dozen with injuries.
As we speak right now, our President, Emmanuel Sitima, has been taken and is held captive and treated like a terrorist at the Harare Central Police Station.
</blockquote>
According to student activist Vital Maronjese, the protesters were conducting themselves peacefully when they were brutally assaulted by the police. Said Maronjese:
<blockquote>
When they arrived, they appeared like people who wanted to understand our meeting. Little did we know that the indiscriminate brutal assault was about to begin. We started running in different directions, and amid the chaos, I was injured.
However, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police intervened after being called to attend a violent situation that had erupted among the students.
</blockquote>
Nyathi said police were not responsible for the violence but were called in to maintain law and order.
The 44 arrested students were taken to Harare Central Police Station, where they were made to pay a US$20 fine each before being released.
However, ZINASU leader Emmanuel Sitima remained in police custody.
Heal Zimbabwe Trust Advocacy Officer and former ZINASU Secretary Tapiwanashe Chiriga said:
<blockquote>
A paranoid state is out to get every dissenting voice in the land at the slightest convenience.
The government of Zimbabwe has de facto banned the right to free association and assembly in Zimbabwe as part of its SADC preparations.
The disruption, assault, and arrest of the ZINASU General Councillors is another window into the state of human rights in Zimbabwe.
We cannot suspend life and our constitutional rights because we have a SADC summit.
</blockquote>
The arrests came just two after Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe issued a warning to citizens to “behave” or face consequences.
Speaking at the burial of Brigadier General Michael Chaminuka on Monday, Kazembe said:
<blockquote>
Those who are going to misbehave will be unfortunate and will have themselves to blame.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is set to host the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on August 17, 2024, in Harare.
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The police raided a private meeting held by the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) and injured 10 members in Harare. ZINASU claimed the police brutalized them, but the police said they were called to maintain order. 44 students were arrested and had to pay a fine to be released, except for ZINASU's president who remained in custody. Some activists believe the government is targeting dissenting voices, especially before the upcoming SADC Summit in Zimbabwe. The government warned citizens to behave or face consequences. The incident happened before the SADC Summit in Harare.

Police Raid On ZINASU Meeting Leaves 10 Injured

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the arrest of 44 students affiliated with the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) at the ZESA Training Centre in Belvedere, Harare on Wednesday.
In a statement issued on 24 July, ZRP spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police intervened after being called to attend a violent situation that had erupted among the students.
Nyathi said police were not responsible for the violence but were called in to maintain law and order. He said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police sets the record straight on the arrest of 44 Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) activists at ZESA Training Centre, Belvedere, Harare on 24th July 2024.
The Police were only called in after violence erupted amongst the ZINASU group. The violence led to the destruction of ZESA and State property.
As a result, Police were called in to come and maintain law and order. This is on record and can be confirmed by ZESA officials.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police therefore dismisses a statement by human rights lawyers and civic organisations as well as social media postings alleging that it is the Zimbabwe Republic Police which caused the violence.
We appeal to civic organizations to verify with Police before issuing statements or raising unsubstantiated allegations.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that there are laws to be observed in the country and anyone who engages in acts of violence and destruction of property will be brought to book.
Above all, those organizing political gatherings should comply with safety and security provisions and tenets of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, Chapter 11:23.
</blockquote>
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44 ZINASU students were arrested by police in Harare for violence at the ZESA Training Center. Police say they were called to stop the violence, not cause it. The police deny allegations that they started the violence and say they were there to maintain order. They want people to verify information with them before making accusations. They remind everyone to follow the laws and not engage in violence. The police say political gatherings should follow safety rules.

Police Speak On The Arrest Of 44 ZINASU Activists In Harare

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) on Monday threatened to shut down universities and colleges if the Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Ministry turns down its request for dialogue over the various challenges faced by students.
ZINASU has condemned what it terms “out of reach” tuition fees and has requested talks with the ministry to prevent further drop-outs.
Emmanuel Sitima, the ZINASU president, on Monday, addressed students at ministry offices where he expressed frustration over the refusal of authorities to dialogue. He said (<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200026029/zinasu-threatens-to-shut-down-universities">via NewsDay)</a>:
<blockquote>
If they fail to respond within that time frame, Zinasu will have no other choice but to shut down institutions of higher learning.
We also held a multi-stakeholder meeting on February 27, which was attended by all stakeholders including the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, but the ministry decided not to come…
We have several requests that we have towards the minister for a meeting to be able to give him our views as a student union because we believe that he (Minister Amon Murwira) does not have a monopoly of ideas and solutions to the problems we are facing as students.
We are sons and daughters of peasants and civil servants who are anywhere below the poverty line.
</blockquote>
Some students have repeatedly been forced to defer studies, drop out, or engage in social vices such as prostitution to fund their continued stay in college.
In March this year, Murwira said there was no free education and that students should engage in work-for-fees programmes.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZINASU Threatens To Shut Down Universities

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), a student organisation that advocates for the rights and welfare of students, has written to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube demanding that he acts on fee increments by higher learning institutions.
In a letter dated 21 April 2023, and signed by ZINASU president Boris Muguti, students described the fee increments by universities and colleges as “unruly and anarchic”. Wrote ZINASU:
<blockquote>
We note with high concern, consistent statements from the government over its incapacitation to fund fundamental social services.
The failure of the government to prioritize funding for education has led to unruly and anarchic fees increment being enforced by institutions of learning.
This has been a catastrophic blow to society which continues to bleed from financial mismanagement.
Students have been forced to defer their studies due to financial constraints, moreover, most of them are born of civil servants who can barely afford a quarter of the charged fee.
This is a clear indication that the nation has suffered an ideological blow as only a minority and privileged class can access fundamental rights that our forefathers fought for.
</blockquote>
ZINASU also bemoaned endemic and systemic corruption that has negatively impacted the Government’s ability to provide social service to citizens. Reads the letter:
<blockquote>
We are alarmed by the manner in which corruption has systematically embedded in the system and culture of governance yet a lot remains unresolved.
The level of impunity by corrupt government actors and officials is shocking. We submitted some reports of corruption to offices within the government and we continue to seek ways to combat corruption as this affects service delivery and puts a death nail in our economy.
The recent findings from the At Jazeera screened documentary illuminated the already known magnitude of corruption in the country and it is our utmost desire to put an end to the smuggling of national resources.
We believe that if resources are channelled to the national interests the economy will be revived and free education can be a possibility in our lifetime.
</blockquote>
ZINASU requested Ncube to respond to five questions about the conditions of student teachers, corruption exposed by the Al Jazeera documentary Gold Mafia, and the “catch and release” syndrome. Here are the questions:
<ol>
<li>Why students and teachers are poor when their country is rich like what was exposed in the Gold Mafia Documentary?</li>
<li> Why does the government fail to provide free and quality education when we are making millions of dollars from Gold, platinum, diamonds, lithium among other minerals?</li>
<li>Why is it difficult for the government to offer students grants when it is harnessing millions of dollars from gold exports?</li>
<li>Why is the government through your Ministry wasting tax payer’s money funding the operations of ZACC, $23mil USD/year when it is clear that it is completely dysfunctional and incompetent apart from “catching and releasing?”</li>
<li>Is your Ministry in keeping with the liberation ethos of power to the people? or it’s now happiness to a few global mafia kings? Do you sleep well making an average $10million USD/month whilst civil servants struggle with $225 USD/month?</li>
</ol>
ZINASU has demanded a face-to-face meeting with Ncube as soon as possible and warned that they will stage protests in Cowdray Park in Bulawayo where Ncube is the ZANU PF candidate for the upcoming elections if he fails to give them audience.
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ZINASU Demands Meeting With Mthuli Ncube

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) won by a huge margin in the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) held last week.
ZINASU claimed 12 seats out of the 15 vacant seats.
ZINASU, which is believed to be sympathetic to opposition political parties, won the positions of president, vice-president, secretary-general, treasurer-general, minister of academic affairs, minister of food, health and students’ welfare, minister of information and publicity, minister of legal and constitutional affairs, and minister of sports and recreation.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU), which is allegedly linked to ZANU PF, won only three positions. In two of those positions, they will be working with ZINASU as the positions have two ministers.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://cite.org.zw/zinasu-resoundingly-wins-nust-src-elections/">CITE</a>, ZINASU President Benon Ncube said the election process was conducted in a peaceable manner though the announcement of the results was delayed without justification. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
The campaigning process and everything went well, we didn’t have any cases of violence unlike what usually happens at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
At NST we didn’t have any act of violence towards the students or the candidates and the election went well.
The problem only came when the results were supposed to be announced on Monday and there was a delay.
We believe it was influenced by the fact that the win surprised the administration, they never expected ZINASU to win in an online election.
So that was a problem because they were now withholding the official announcement of results but then there was nothing that was going to reverse that decision because the agents had already confirmed results and we knew everything.
</blockquote>

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