Students want a ‘better, freer and more democratic Zimbabwe’

Students who have been embroiled in legal proceedings against the state over activism-related incidents have vowed to continue mobilising for a “better, freer and more democratic Zimbabwe”.

The Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) quartet of Allan Chipoyi, Pritchard Paradzayi, Glown Magaya and Falon Dunga were acquitted on charges of disorderly conduct on 5 November after being on trial for close to eight months. They were granted Z$5,000 (US$60 at the time) bail on 5 March 2021.

Meanwhile, Allan Moyo, a second-year University of Zimbabwe (UZ) computer science and pro-democracy advocate was removed from remand prison on 27 October, after spending more than two months in jail from December last year, for allegedly calling for a revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

Despite the students’ ‘victories’ several others are still awaiting trial as concern over civil liberties in Zimbabwe remain amid diplomatic talks about whether Western sanctions against Zimbabwe should be lifted or not.

Moyo’s lawyer, Obey Shava of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, successfully applied for his removal from remand. He had to report to the police every two weeks since he was granted bail in February.

“First he was denied bail [after having] had his record tampered with so he could not be granted bail by the High Court. He was locked up for more than 82 days before the state developed cold feet on prosecuting him. The state was no longer sure whether or not there is a case against him,” said Shava on 1 November.

A relieved Moyo told University World News that he was unhappy with the government and its judiciary system.

“It only happened with me to set an example to other student leaders, and [so] that students do not dare challenge the government, that is failing … We, as students, are persecuted for exercising our rights as provided for in the constitution,” he said.

Moyo is still being incriminated in another case related to an alleged illegal gathering and will be summoned by the state if it proceeds with prosecuting him.

Lennox Machoko, the UZ student representative council president, said the release of Moyo was a welcome development.

“The government continues to perpetuate and show intolerance to divergent views. A lot of students right now are being incarcerated on trumped-up charges and it is something that we totally condemn,” he told University World News.

Scholarship withdrawn

Chipoyi, Paradzayi, Magaya and Dunga, the four students who were acquitted on 5 November, were arrested after they had allegedly participated in a protest calling for a fair bail ruling for outgoing union president, Takudzwa Ngadziore, and outgoing secretary general, Tapiwanashe Chiriga.

Speaking to University World News, Chipoyi recalled the arrest ordeal and expressed relief at finally being free.

“We were chased by riot police at Robert Mugabe Square (near Harare’s Rotten Row magistrate’s court) and assaulted for simply wearing ZINASU regalia.

“After we were taken into custody, the police did not tell us our charges and denied us access to our lawyers and food for about five hours. They even kept us away from other prisoners and kept sending different members of the security services to interrogate us and take our pictures and profiles. It was really scary.”

“I would like to thank Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, especially our lawyer, Mrs [Nontokozo] Dube-Tachiona, all students in Zimbabwe and all progressive forces who stood with us for the past eight months,” added Chipoyi.

It had not been all good news for Chipoyi on 5 November, however. After his acquittal, his scholarship with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education was revoked, reportedly for his involvement in the youth-led Project Vote 263 movement, an organisation that is driving voter mobilisation and voter registration among Zimbabwe’s youth ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

The state alleges that the organisation is fronting the opposition party’s agenda.

Despite the loss of his scholarship, Chipoyi said: “I will not stop demanding for a better, freer and more democratic Zimbabwe.”