SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: January 30, 2012

Attack Types: Imprisonment | Prosecution

Institution(s):National University of Science and Technology

Region & Country:Eastern Africa | Zimbabwe

New or Ongoing:New Incident

Four students at the National University of Science and Technology, Duncan Mombeshora, Beven Nyamande, David Mushawani and Ernest Makoni, were arrested for allegedly planning a demonstration against unaffordable tuition fees. They appeared in court and were charged with “participating in an illegal gathering with intentions of causing public violence.” All four students were tried and subsequently acquitted due to “failure of the state to bring any evidence before the magistrate.” It is reported that from September through October 2011, approximately 40 other students had been arrested.

Sources:
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/news/zimbabwe/56057/weekly-case-trackerjanuary-30-to.html
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20111126103408195