1. Home
  2. Southern Africa
  3. Zimbabwe
  • News

Police release 41 students arrested during riots

Police on Tuesday released all 41 students arrested during three days of riotous demonstrations at Harare’s main university aimed at protesting economic hardships, AP reported, quoting student leaders. One student died in the violence and 20 others were injured, some by jumping from upper floors of their hostels after police fired tear gas into the windows.

Most of the 41 students had been detained since early Sunday. They were discharged after appearing in court on public violence charges and were not expected to face further charges, said Brilliant Mhlanga, an official of the students’ union.

The Harare campus was reported to be calm on Tuesday. Student leaders were helping with arrangements for the funeral on Wednesday of science student Batanayi Madzidzi, 20, who died from injuries he sustained allegedly during clashes with police late on Sunday. Police said Madzidzi was injured in a stampede, but students said that police punched and kicked him and left him unconscious as they assaulted students fleeing campus dormitories.


This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

Share this article

Our ability to deliver compelling, field-based reporting on humanitarian crises rests on a few key principles: deep expertise, an unwavering commitment to amplifying affected voices, and a belief in the power of independent journalism to drive real change.

We need your help to sustain and expand our work. Your donation will support our unique approach to journalism, helping fund everything from field-based investigations to the innovative storytelling that ensures marginalised voices are heard.

Please consider joining our membership programme. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact on how the world responds to crises.

Become a member of The New Humanitarian

Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

Join