UZ students 'buy freedom' after arrests

UZ students 'buy freedom' after arrests

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By Staff Reporter

RIOT police disrupted a students rally at the University of Zimbabwe this week and arrested seven union leaders at a time the institution has lodged papers in the High Court seeking a peace order against the students.

Human rights lawyer Harrison Nkomo on Thursday said the seven students have since been released after paying admission of guilt fines.

Police said the student leaders had addressed a rally without seeking clearance from the law enforcement agents.

Nkomo said: "We had to buy their freedom.”

Nkomo could not comment on the UZ court application saying it was being handled by another lawyer.

The arrests came after the out-going leadership of Mfundo Mlilo, Collen Chibango, Wellington Mahohoma and Hentchel Mavuma went to campaign for a new leadership ahead of the Thursday night elections.

In a statement Mlilo said: “The vice chancellor of the university Professor Levi Nyagura authorised campaigning but as the outgoing SRC members were addressing students at Swinton hall of residence, about 25 members of the anti-riot police charged at them armed with baton sticks and dogs. All students ran for dear life as tear gas was fired all over."

He added: "The five student leaders (Mlilo,Garikai Kajau, Chibango, Abisha Dube and Zwelithini Viki) remained standing. The leadership was hauled into police jeeps with dogs and were taken to Avondale police station where they spent a night”.
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