Zimbabwe: Authorities launch crackdown against students protesting high fees
Authorities must drop sinister charges against University of Zimbabwe students who have been peacefully protesting high fees and affirm their right to freedom of assembly and expression.
Source Amnesty International
Although one might not necessarily agree with the protest, there is absolutely no doubting the fact that this heavy handedness by the Zimbabwean state Authorities shows a clear lack of understanding of the right of all citizens to have the right to protest peacefully in Zimbabwe.
There was no threat to overthrow any government, there was no political actor or political activism involved. This was just a simple peaceful protest that is being met with brute force akin to one using a baseball bat in a glass house to kill a humble house fly.
The students were likely ill advised to protest at the university. Yet one may ask; Where else could they have peacefully protested without making a quasi political statement?
Sadly though, as much as countless others have warned before, there is actual Lawfare (Law being used in political warfare) in Zimbabwe. Those that are pulling the strings are occupiers of some of the states most powerful institutions. Hard men and Women that are untouchable, all to the detriment of the ordinary civilian.
If not already there, somehow and in some way, it is highly likely that Zimbabweans will feel as though they are in a proverbial pressure cooker. Then at some point, without steam (the right to protest peacefully) being let out, the pot might burst.
Until then, one can only implore the government and state organisations to follow the constitution and the United Nations treaties and Conventions that Zimbabwe is signatory to, instead of making things up as they go along.
