Bindura University torched in student protests

Bindura University torched in student protests

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN police have arrested at least 39 students from the northern town of Bindura after they allegedly set fire to a building that houses computer equipment on their university campus.

The fire comes at a time of rising tensions on university and other tertiary education campuses across the country, where massive fee hikes at state-run universities have triggered protests. There have been a number of arrests.

Zimbabwe's inflation has soared to nearly 1 000 percent, putting everything from school fees to hospital visits out of reach of much of the population.

Meanwhile five student leaders from the University of Zimbabwe have been suspended indefinitely. The five were served with their suspension letters late Wednesday when the university security details raided their domitories, served them with the suspension letters and escored them off campus, according to the Zimbabwe National Association of Student Unions (Zinasu).

Zinasu president Promise Mkhwananzi identified the suspended students as Garikayi Kajau, Trevor Murai, Abisha Dube, Moreen Kademawunga and Zwelithini Viki.

In the Bindura blaze on Wednesday night, computers, university records, furniture and stationery worth billions of Zimbabwe dollars were destroyed.

"We suspect the students or perpetrators used a petrol bomb," police spokesperson Michael Munyukwa said.

Forensic experts will soon carry out investigations.

Earlier this week 19 students from Bindura were arrested for demonstrating against the new fees.

The firebombing came after bail was denied to the 19, who have been charged under the country's tough security laws.

Zanu-PF political commissar Elliot Manyika charged that the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was behind the attack.

"We believe it is politically-motivated," Elliot Manyika told state television on Thursday. He claimed the MDC was frustrated because students at the university had previously shunned MDC-led demonstrations against the government.

Mugabe has warned that the law will "descend mercilessly" on anyone leading or participating in "a campaign of violence or terrorist activities" against his government.

Human rights lawyers in Zimbabwe slammed what they say is the "continued harassment of students" and called on the authorities to stop using violence against young people.
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