Riot police allegedly kill student

A first-year student at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Batani Hadzizi, died early on Monday morning after seven riot policemen allegedly assaulted him in a hostel on the campus, the ‘Daily News’ reported on Tuesday, quoting eye witnesses. The police were called in to quell a demonstration over student increments. Several students were injured, some seriously, after being either assaulted or as a result of jumping out of the second and third floor windows of their hostels, as they tried to flee from the police.

The death followed a demonstration on Saturday night in which several cars were stoned. On Monday, about 100 students were arrested and detained at Avondale and Harare Central police stations. Several other students were injured when riot police tried but failed to prevent about 2,000 students from marching into the city centre in solidarity with their late colleague.

Inspector Bothwell Mugariri, a police spokesperson, said the youth died after he was trampled on by other students in a stampede at around 9.00 pm on Sunday. The students’ representative body immediately accused the police of trying to cover up their excessive use of force. They said the police confiscated the bloodied mattress and blankets in the room where he was assaulted. The results of a post-mortem examination of Hadzizi’s body are expected later this week.