12 May 2007

By Staff Reporter

HARARE – FIFTEEN University of Zimbabwe students have been hospitalised after vicious dogs were set on them in running battles with the police that erupted at the campus on Thursday evening (10 May). The students were demonstrating over the deteriorating standards at the institution, and the general education system and the lecturers salaries which has seen them missing lectures. Police fired shots and three students were arrested during the fierce running battles. The students went on the rampage, shattering windows at the CBZ Bank, the main library, great hall, Swinton dining hall, among others. At least two vehicles had their windows broken as the students bayed for the blood of vice –chancellor Levy Nyagura.

In a statement over the disturbances, the UZ information desk said: “The riot police armed to teeth with sophisticated artillery descended on the campus and fired several gunshots and teargas after which they started beating up students indiscriminately. “Two vicious dogs were unleashed on the defenceless students which resulted in four students being mauled and are currently admitted in a private hospital together with other 15 injured students.” Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) said they were saddened that the government is taking long to solve the labour dispute with the lecturers. The lecturers said they are going on a full-scale strike on Monday (14 May).

“We, the students are greatly concerned by Government's lack of will to tackle the labour dispute with lecturers who have been on job action since the beginning of the year. We note with great concern the reparations caused. The massive exodus of qualified personnel, dwindling quality of service delivery, has led to a fall in the credibility of Zimbabwean education, which at one time was unarguably the best in Africa, said Clever Bere, Zinasu general councillor and NUST Students Union president.

He added that” “Lack of Government commitment to address this pertinent issue is a clear indication that education is no longer a priority in this country. Rather the scarce and much needed resources are being channelled to defence, typical of all falling dictatorships. Education should take priority in any developing society. However, this is not the case with Zimbabwe, we realize the acquisition of sophisticated artillery and military wares is taking precedence. This is typical of a failed state, with nothing to offer to its people but amour itself so as to remain in power through repression and oppression”.

The Union also condemned the continued on attack on human rights activists by the State security agents “We vehemently condemn the continued attack by the Government on human rights activists, opposition activists, trade unionists and student leaders. This barbaric and satanic act by the Mugabe regime is a clear attempt to disrupt the growing momentum within the pro-democratic forces, which is threatening Mugabe’s reign in power. The abductions, torture, wanton arrests and detentions perpetrated by the state agents should stop immediately; We are also deeply concerned with the collapse of the economy. The salaries of the workers have been seriously eroded by inflation to levels way below the poverty datum line” said Bere.
The students vowed to strike relentlessly.

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