Mugabe frees 39 but holds 6 for ‘treason’

News — By Esther Gomo on March 8, 2011 1:48 am

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) has condemned the continued incarceration, on treason charges, of 6 activists mostly student leaders and trade union activists. On Monday, 39 of the original 45 activists were freed after being arrested on the 19^th of February for watching video footage of protests in Egypt and Tunisia.

The six still in custody are, ZINASU Deputy Secretary General Welcome Zimuto, University of Zimbabwe lecturer Munyaradzi Gwisai, former ZINASU President Hopewell Gumbo and three others. 

They are next expected to appear in court on the 21^st of March. In his ruling the magistrate described both arrest and detention of the 39 released as illegal. The 39 were just attending a meeting and their attendance doesn’t attract any charge worse off treason.

Marufu Mandewere representing the accused deplored the conditions in which his clients were subjected to, including being denied medical attention, subjected to forced hard labour and torture.

“ZINASU condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued detention of the six activists which is a direct violation of academic freedoms in Zimbabwe. The activists have a right to hold academic discussions, hold or express their own opinions.

“Today students showed their disapproval by singing and chanting revolutionary songs, demanding the immediate release of the detained. The Union shall mobilize more people to attend the next court hearing and register their disapproval of the detentions,” ZINASU said in a statement.

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