The police have brutally arrested 10 students from various institutions led by Walter Mzamani at Belvedere Technical Teachers College in Harare for allegedly participating in a protest march. The police beat up the students with an assortment of weapons and immediately arrested the 10 students whilst the rest scattered. A female student participant has suffered a dislocated spine and currently hasn’t received any medical attention. The march was against the contemptible actions by Teachers Colleges and Polytechnics nationwide that are barring students from writing examinations due to unpaid fees. We have contacted our lawyers and the students are now en route to Harare Central Police, Law and Order Section.
One of the grievances raised by the students is the corrosive corruption and nepotism at public institutions which not only hinder service delivery, but also push the poor to the periphery of service delivery.
In this economic environment wherein people are earning far below the Total Consumptive Poverty line, government institutions have gone on a crusade to punish the poor for being poor. To then demand the right to education, government responds with brutality.
We call for solidarity from all progressive Citizens, students and institutions towards those arrested and amplifying their calls for equal access of education for all. We would like to warn the government of Zimbabwe that it’s continued indifference and adamancy over the calls for a just governance and equitable distribution of resources shall only result in a swift and extraordinary action by the people.
Source: ARTUZ
