SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
11 November 2009
column
Four students arrested in Bindura on Monday have been released after a night behind bars, as the harassment of activists across the country continues to intensify.
The four were arrested during a campaign meeting at the Bindura University of Science Education, where SRC elections have been underway. The group, including outgoing SRC President Respect Ndanga, had just finished addressing students at a campaign rally for one of the new presidential candidates, Paul Dakarai. They were detained at Mashonaland Central police station, where they were charged under the Criminal law Codification and reform Act, allegedly for "participating in a gathering likely to cause a breach of peace or bigotry."
The arrests come after nine other students were arrested last Friday, reportedly by five members of Robert Mugabe's presidential guard. The nine, who had been holding a discussion outside the Bindura University's premises, were detained on allegations that they wanted to disrupt a graduation ceremony being held that day. All nine were eventually released.
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) meanwhile expressed concern Wednesday that its President, Clever Bere, is still being hunted by police. The union said that police details at Mashonaland Central Police Station said that they were still looking for Bere, apparently to interview him on charges of inciting violence. The president was one of the speakers at the campaign rally on Monday where the other four student leaders were arrested. On Monday night police in Bindura launched a manhunt for the ZINASU leader, mounting roadblocks around the town with search lights, guns and police dogs, all in a desperate bid to arrest Bere. The ZINASU president managed to escape the town and is now in Vienna Austria where he is representing ZINASU at the World Justice Forum conference.
At the same time, five members of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) are still being held in custody in Hwange, after they were arrested in Victoria Falls on Sunday. The group, including ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo, has not been taken to court, despite being set to appear on Tuesday. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Director Irene Petras explained that police managed to secure a warrant for further detention on Wednesday, on unexplained grounds. Petras and her ZLHR team have filed an urgent application for their clients' release.
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