In a surprising turn of events, the Harare Magistrate Court has issued arrest warrants for several University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students, including prominent activists Nigel Shumba and Makomborero Haruzivishe. The students are accused of inciting violence on campus, a charge they vehemently deny, asserting instead that they were peacefully protesting for political reforms.
The situation on the UZ campus has been tense for weeks, with students demanding significant political changes and greater transparency from the government. These protests have not gone unnoticed by the ruling Zanu PF party, whose youth wing has been accused of harassing and intimidating students to suppress their calls for reform.
Eyewitnesses and student representatives claim that Zanu PF youths have been a constant presence on campus, engaging in acts of intimidation and violence against those participating in the protests. Despite these allegations, authorities have shown little interest in investigating or curbing the activities of the party youths, focusing instead on cracking down on the student activists.
Shumba, one of the students named in the arrest warrants, has been vocal about the need for political change in Zimbabwe. "We are not inciting violence," Shumba stated in an interview before the warrants were issued. "We are demanding our right to a fair and just political system. The government's attempts to silence us will not succeed."
Efforts made by The Standard to reach out to the students were fruitless as they were not reachable until the time of publishing.
