On September 12, students at the University of Zimbabwe embarked on
peaceful #FeesMustFall demonstrations against tuition fee hikes of up to
1000%, paying a steep ZWL500,000.00 from about ZWL50,000.00. The
university also increased accommodation fees from ZWL71,000.00 to $616
United States Dollars (USD). Despite the peaceful demonstrations, three
female students were arrested and assaulted by the Police and sustained
severe injuries. Another 14 students were arrested, while five more arrested
two days later. The students were charged with violating the Criminal Law,
Codification and Reform Act. Section 59 of the Constitution provides that
every person has the right to demonstrate and present petitions. Though the
Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Amon Murwira defended the fee hike,
arguing that the government was already subsidising, the fees were later
reviewed down after students petitioned Parliament.
Members of Parliament Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole and 14 others from
Nyatsime are in detention without trial for more than 100 days on
allegations of inciting public violence following the murder of Moreblessing
Ali in May 2022. Hon. Sikhala, Hon. Sithole and the 14 other detainees were
arrested in June 2022 following violent clashes in Nyatsime during funeral
proceedings for Moreblessing Ali. The 16 have been in and out of court since
their arrest and constantly denied bail, with the latest bail pending trial
application dismissed on September 28. According to Section 50 (1) (d), bail
is a constitutional right in Zimbabwe, yet these CCC members are
continuously denied bail. The continued persecution through prosecution of
opposition activists shows the shrinking of democratic space in the country,
especially as Zimbabwe heads towards the 2023 harmonised elections. On
September 20, Job Sikhala’s wife, Ellen, was arrested and had her car
impounded for an alleged traffic offence while visiting her husband at
Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
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