ZINASU Press Release:17 November 2009
International Students’ Day is an international observance of student activism, held annually on the 17th of November.
The date commemorates the anniversary of the 1939 Nazi storming of University of Prague after demonstrations against the killing of Jan Opletal and the occupation of Czechoslovakia, as well as the execution of nine student leaders, over 1200 students sent to concentration camps, and the closing of all Czech universities and colleges.
The nine students and professors executed on the 17th of November in Prague:
• Josef Matoušek
• Jaroslav Klíma
• Jan Weinert
• Josef Adamec
• Jan Černý
• Marek Frauwirt
• Bedřich Koukala
• Vaclav Šafránek
• Frantisek Skorkovský
The November 17th 1939 students’ resistance in the streets of Prague against Nazi occupation inspired the establishment of an anti-Nazi students’ coalition. In 1941, November 17 was declared International Students Day by the International Students Council in London becoming the starting point of the founding of the International Union of Students – IUS
The students’ struggles of the 1930s and that of the 1940s, which united and organized them with unmatched courage and determination in resisting Nazism and fascism, continue to inspire our struggles today.
The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) throughout its history has consistently fought against all forms of discrimination, oppression and intolerance, defending the students and young people of Zimbabwe, Africa and the world over.
We have placed the struggle for the right to education for all at the centre of our struggles for democracy, the restoration of the rule of law, the eradication of poverty, respect of human rights, sustainable development and peaceful coexistence.
As we commemorate 17th November today, we must remember we are doing so with over 100 000 high schools students (representing just less than 50%) facing a bleak future after they failed to pay the exorbitant examination fees gazzetted by government.
Many more have dropped after failing to pay tuition fees. In colleges and universities, the situation is near catastrophe; thousands failed to write their end of semester examinations at the National University of Science and Technology, those in other institutions (Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, Chinhoyi University of Technology, University of Zimbabwe, Bindura University of Science Education) are failing to access their results.
Many others in Polytechnic, Teachers Colleges and at Universities are unlikely to sit for their November and December examinations as they have failed to pay tuition and examination fees.We have been denied the right to education.
In almost all our colleges across the country, despite the consummation of the GPA in February, our colleagues have either been expelled or suspended from school, for organizing students against the vicious privatization agenda being pursued by the inclusive government which has left the majority of Zimbabweans unable to access the basic services-education, water and health.
We continue to experience repressive laws that undermine the right to freedom of association, assembly and expression.
However, our struggles continue to enjoy increasing solidarity and participation from both our member student unions and from friendly and partner organizations. In light of this energy and enthusiasm, it is with great pleasure that the National Executive Council of ZINASU calls upon all students to participate in the commemorations of the November 17th International Students’ Day.
We call upon all the students of Zimbabwe to hold local events-in their campuses and in the different towns to celebrate our common history, mourn our martyrs, celebrate the lives and contributions of our fallen heroes and heroines, and continue our common efforts to create the conditions for Peace, Justice and Equality around the world, in the spirit of those that came before us.
This year’ commemorations coincide with the launch of the Learnmore ‘Judah’ Jongwe Foundation (23 October 2009) which shall among other things seek to safeguard and protect the legacy of one of the greatest luminaries of the students’ movement in Zimbabwe.
We wish, on this day, to urge all students to emulate the late selfless and revolutionary son of our movement; a man who stood firm and steadfast in defending the rights of the students. Jongwe was a unifier, a leader, a revolutionary-par-excellence.
To Judah and all the fallen, gallant heroes of our struggles, we remain loyal to your ideals, values and aspirations. Your legacy will always be in safe hands. We will jealously defend the revolution.
We wish to further take this opportunity to reiterate and reaffirm our democratic demands expressed as;
1. Freedom of discussion on philosophical, cultural, and scientific questions. The right to express a critical viewpoint.
2. Freedom to discuss historical questions. Let the truth come out! Gukurahundi, Nhari rebellion, Operation Murambatsvina, June 27 Operation Wavhotera Papi and all human rights violations by the Zimbabwean government.
3. Freedom to discuss current political issues.
4. Abolish censorship in all its forms and manifestations
5. The right to organise and demonstrate on and off campuses.
6. Eliminate self-perpetuation, social inequalities and the special privileges of the bureaucracy.
7. End the ties between the University and the military
In conclusion, we wish to express our heartfelt solidarity with the struggling, oppressed and suffering students and youths of Swaziland, Guinea, Burma, Gaza, Palestine, Lebanon, Honduras, Yemen, Pakistan, Iran and all countries under oppressive regimes that are undermining democracy and good governance.
We further call for deeper and active solidarity.
Another Zimbabwe is possible.
Issued by Clever Bere (ZINASU President)
