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Joint statement: Solidarity with Zimbabwean student activists
SAIH and eight Norwegian student organisations have issued a joint solidarity statement following the arrest, assault, and prosecution of student activists in Zimbabwe for peacefully opposing a proposed constitutional amendment.
Student activists face repression
ZINASU, one of SAIH's partner organisations in Zimbabwe, reports that students mobilized by ZINASU to oppose Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3, which would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's term until 2030 without new elections, have been blocked from participating in public hearings, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, assaulted, and charged for their peaceful activism.
Several student leaders, including former ZINASU President Emmanuel Sitima and current President Liberty Hamauswa, have been arrested and detained before later being granted bail. Other student activists continue to face prosecution and court proceedings linked to their peaceful political activities.
ZINASU's offices in Harare were also raided by state authorities, further escalating intimidation against the student movement.
Norwegian student organisations respond
In response to these developments, SAIH and several Norwegian student organisations have issued a joint solidarity statement.
In the statement, the organisations state that universities and student unions must remain spaces for democratic participation, critical thought and freedom of expression. They argue that the criminalization of student activism in Zimbabwe is an attack on these principles, and therefore an attack on us all.
The organisations also call on the Norwegian government and international institutions to publicly condemn the repression of Zimbabwean students and raise the situation in international forums.
Joint statement
Norwegian students stand in solidarity with Zimbabwean Students
In Zimbabwe, students are facing repression for peacefully opposing the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3). The proposed amendment would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term until 2030 without new elections, raising serious concerns about democracy and constitutional governance in Zimbabwe.
In recent weeks, students mobilized by ZINASU attempted to participate in public hearings to voice opposition to the bill. Instead, many were blocked from entering venues, arbitrarily arrested, abducted, assaulted, or charged for peaceful activism.
Several student activists continue to face prosecution and court proceedings linked to their peaceful activism. In recent weeks, a number of student leaders, including former ZINASU President Emmanuel Sitima, current ZINASU President Liberty Hamauswa, and other student activists, have been arrested and detained before later being granted bail. Others, including Lindon Zanga, Preston Paradzayi and Marlvin Madanda, continue to face legal proceedings following their participation in peaceful political activities.
ZINASU’s offices in Harare were also raided by state authorities, further escalating intimidation against the student movement.
We believe universities and student unions must remain spaces for democratic participation, critical thought, and freedom of expression. The criminalization of student activism in Zimbabwe is an attack on these principles, and therefore an attack on us all.
The Norwegian student community and international student movements cannot remain silent while fellow students are persecuted for exercising their democratic rights. International solidarity is essential when governments attempt to suppress dissent and silence youth voices.
We call on the Norwegian government and international institutions to publicly condemn the repression of Zimbabwean students and raise the situation in international forums.
Furthermore, we demand that the Zimbabwean authorities:
- End the criminalization of student activism
- Drop all the malicious charges against ZINASU activists and student protesters;
- End harassment and intimidation against student unions and civil society;
- Respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, association and political participation;
- Investigate attacks, abductions, and violence against activists.
An attack on student activists anywhere is an attack on student democracy everywhere.
Signed by:
- Norsk studentorganisasjon (NSO)
- Studentparlamentet ved OsloMet
- Studentorganisasjonen i Agder (UiA)
- Studentparlament ved UiO
- Studenttinget NTNU
- Studenttinget på Vestlandet (HVL)
- Studentparlamentet i Volda
- Studentparlamentet ved UiB
- Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpefond (SAIH)
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Student activists under attack in Zimbabwe
SAIH has worked alongside Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) for decades in the struggle for the right to education and academic freedom. What we are now witnessing in Zimbabwe is not new, but it is serious, and it is escalating.
